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Welcome to the ECU Career Success Guide! We are eager to help you, whether you are
a student needing to plan your career or find an internship or job; or a parent with questions
about how our department can assist your son or daughter.
We offer many programs and services highlighted on our extensive website
www.ecu.edu/career. The Career Center prides itself on its â&#x20AC;&#x153;high-tech, high-touchâ&#x20AC;? model,
using state-of-the-art technology to make information available and processes easy for
students while providing personalized one-on-one service.
Our center is set up on a liaison model so that there is a career coach devoted to working
with students in each and every major at ECU. To find out who your assigned career coach
is, visit our website or call our office at (252) 328-6050.
The Career Center is located on the corner of 5th Street and Jarvis Street. Stop in and
introduce yourself; we welcome personal visits and look forward to working with you.

Rights - All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be
reproduced without written
permission of the publisher.
ÂŠ Copyright 2010
College Recruitment Media, Inc.
2051/2 W. State Street
Geneva, Illinois 60134
630.938.0200

What The Career Center Can Do for You

M

ost students go through college without ever setting
foot in their school’s career services office. Yet, outside
of the academic realm, job seekers will pay hundreds,
even thousands, of dollars for the very same services that are
provided to you free of charge. The mission of the ECU Career
Center is to teach skills and provide services that will facilitate
the career development and job search process, ranging from
assessing your abilities to negotiating employment offers.
Don’t overlook this opportunity; it could mean passing up the
job of a lifetime.

Develop Relationships

Get to know The Career Center liaison assigned to your specific
college. Try to meet with your Career Coach several different
times throughout your time at ECU. Appointments are a great
way to stay motivated and to accomplish career-related tasks. A
Career Coach will listen to your concerns and provide objective
advice. You can bounce ideas off him or her, which will help
you think through your options. Furthermore, when unique job
opportunities come in, Career Coaches often alert students who
they know well and think might be a good fit with the position.
Remember, the more you share about your skills and your goals
with the staff, the better they will be able to assist you.

Programs and Services

Once you get to know your Career Coach, become familiar
with all of the programs and services offered through The
Career Center which include:

Job Listings and Recruiting Programs

undreds of opportunities are posted for ECU students each
H
year through The Career Center jobs database, PirateJobs.
Part-time on- and off-campus, Federal Work-Study, internships, co-ops, and full-time positions are all posted in one
easy-to-use system that is available to all ECU students and
alumni. Employers often post positions specifically for your
individual college. Career Coaches also can provide detailed
advice on the most effective job search strategies.

Student Employment

Working a part-time job on or off campus enables students
to apply knowledge being learned in the classroom and
strengthens their skills for future employment. Students
who work while going to school have an opportunity
to help pay educational costs and gain valuable experience and skills to enhance their career goals. The ECU
Career Center helps students find part-time employment
on-campus, off-campus and through the Federal WorkStudy program.

Resume and Cover Letter Critiques

During individual appointments or group workshops,
Career Coaches provide detailed advice on writing
resumes, cover letters, and other job search correspondence. We offer a variety of services to help you create
the most effective job search correspondence you can. In
addition to one-on-one resume guidance and critiques, we
provide handouts, sample resumes, online resume writing
software and even electronic portfolio software to help you
design creative, targeted job search correspondence to help
you get as many interviews and job offers as you can.

Career Fairs

Career Fairs offer a convenient opportunity to network,
talk face-to-face with a wide range of employers, and set up
interviews. The ECU Career Center sponsors two all major
fairs each year both of which are held in the Greenville
Convention Center. We also sponsor an Education Fair
in the spring semester and a Health Sciences Fair in the
fall semester. Career Fairs are a wonderful opportunity to
become familiar with different employers recruiting your
major, browse their available positions, talk with them
informally, and drop off resumes.

Mock Interviews

When it comes to interviewing, practice makes perfect. The
experience of having a simulated interview with a staff
member can calm nerves, enhance performance, teach you
how to answer tough questions, and prevent you from
making big mistakes. H.I.R.E.D (Helping Individuals
Reach Employment Destinations) is a partnership between
the Career Center and professionals from a wide variety
of industries. These professionals volunteer their time to
conduct 30-minute mock interviews of students. This will
allow you the opportunity to practice your interviewing
skills and receive great feedback that will assist you in the
interviewing process.

Advanced Technology and Virtual Career Services

The ECU Career Center uses a variety of technologies
including SecondLife, Blackboard, and the Internet to
provide services to students at a distance. We also have
unique online assessments and tools including Perfect
Interview, Optimal Resume, Career GPS, and Occupational
Information Network (ONET) to help students with the job
search and career readiness process.

Employer Information Sessions/
On-Campus Recruiting

Each semester, a wide range of employers from various
locations and industries visit The Career Center to present
information about their organizations to students. Learn
about potential career opportunities and network with key
employers by attending these sessions. Furthermore, students
will be able to take advantage of on-campus recruiting
programs, where employers collect student resumes and
conduct on-campus interviews for various job openings.

Alumni Networks

Through the PirateJobs Mentor Module, The Career Center
offers students access to alumni contacts in various career
fields. These graduates have volunteered to serve as a
resource for information and advice. This can be one of the
most helpful ways to learn about different industries, and
can help you get your foot in the door.

Cooperative Education and Internship Programs
Internships are the most valuable way to try out different
career fields and gain hands-on experience while you are
still a student. You can build your resume, learn the ropes,
and maybe even get academic credit. Many co-ops and
internships lead to full-time opportunities.

Important Note!
We send important messages about programs and events via email so make sure you add us to your
“safe list” so our important announcements don’t end up in your spam folder. Check our website at
www.ecu.edu/career frequently for the most up-to-date information on programs and events.
www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 3

A Plan for Career Success
Freshman Year—Explore
• E
xplore your interests and abilities through
academic courses; demonstrate excellent academic
performance
• Strengthen your written communication skills in
English classes and writing labs.
• Create a first draft of your resume and have it
critiqued by a Career Coach at The Career Center.
• Discover ECU resources including The Career
Center, Counseling Center, Academic Enrichment
Center, and college advising centers.
• Explore majors and careers through career
assessment tools offered at The Career Center or via
our website at www.ecu.edu/career; familiarize
yourself with all of the resources available through
the web site.
• Register with The Career Center to obtain a logon to
PirateJobs and become familiar with the database.
• Obtain an introduction to your initial field of
interest through an internship, job shadow, or
conversation with an Alumni Mentor.
• Consider volunteer positions or a part-time job
to help build your resume and broaden your
experience
• Attend career fairs to gather information on
potential careers and employers.

Set goals for each year
to achieve your career plans!

Junior Year
• B
egin to plan for an effective job search. Set
deadlines for required steps.
• Seek leadership positions in co-curricular
activities (committee chairs and elected positions.)
Join career-related student professional
associations.
• Update your resume in The Career Center online
recruiting system, PirateJobs.
• Use the Optimal Resume software on The Career
Center’s website to develop an electronic portfolio
which highlights the school and employment
projects you have completed.
• Choose electives to enhance your qualifications,
especially your oral and written communication
skills.
• Attend the fall and spring Career Fairs and
interview with employers to obtain co-op or
internship positions.
• Participate in a Mock Job Interview through
The Career Center.
• Research graduate school options and apply
according to established guidelines and deadlines.

Sophomore Year

Senior Year

• T
alk to professionals in career fields you are
considering. Review the Career Success Guide
for additional information on informational
interviewing.
• Get to know faculty in a major of interest. They can
talk about career options and provide a letter of
reference when you apply for a job or to graduate
school.
• Develop a professional quality resume and register
with The Career Center for internship opportunities.
• Obtain a part-time job in your field during the
school year or summer. Obtain a summer paid or
volunteer internship in your major area of interest.
• Attend career fairs and employer information
sessions that relate to your major.
• Enhance your technical/computer skills. Take
workshops offered by ITCS.
• Use The Career Center’s online job interviewing
software to practice job interviewing.

• P
articipate in The Career Center career fairs both fall
and spring to network with employers and obtain
full-time job offers.
• Attend The Career Center workshops on job search
strategies, resume writing, and job interviewing.
• Research companies before your job interview.
• Review the handouts on our website on salary
negotiation.
• Participate in face-to-face Mock Job Interview
offered by The Career Center.
• Conduct a thorough job search campaign in
addition to on-campus interviews.
• Notify The Career Center once you have accepted
an offer.
• Establish a reference list and/or ask for letters of
recommendation from academic references

4 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

Career Exploration Through Assessments

A

ssessments are tools that can be used to explore, evaluate and measure various attributes. Self-assessment
tools help you gain an understanding of yourself and
your goals by defining your core interests, values, personality,
and skills. Self-assessments are not designed to resolve all of
your questions, rather should be used as tools as part of your
career development. They can help you target occupations
and fields you might not have considered before, clarify what
you want to do next, and find a career path that would be truly
interesting and satisfying.
You can maximize the use of an assessment by discussing
your results with a Career Coach once it has been completed.
Once you complete an assessment, contact the Career Center
to schedule a meeting with your Career Coach to discuss and
interpret the results of your assessment. Your Career Coach
will be able to help you figure out what to do “next” after you
have completed an assessment as well as share other helpful
resources.

Interest Assessments
O*NET Interest Profiler:

http://onetcenter.org/IP.html
This instrument is a self-assessment career exploration tool
that can help clients discover the type of work activities and
occupations that they would like and find exciting. Clients
identify and learn about broad interest areas most relevant to
themselves. They can use their interest results to explore the
world of work.

Career Interest Test:

http://www.livecareer.com/career-interest-inventory-test
This 100-question assessment from LiveCareer identifies your
career interests and then tells you what jobs are out there for
you. You should carefully explore each occupation that you
consider. Read about the occupation, talk to people who work
in that occupation, and discuss your career interests with your
teachers, counselors, and family. In addition, try to learn more
about the occupation by experience through job shadowing,
volunteer work, internship, and part-time work.

ways to finish 36 statements. The results can help you define
your personality preferences—and possibly direct you to
various career paths.

Values Assessments
O*NET Work Importance Profiler:

http://www.onetcenter.org/WIP.html
The Work Importance Profiler is an assessment to help individuals learn more about their work values and what they
think is important in a job. Understanding work values helps
people better decide which jobs and careers to explore. Free
software must be downloaded.

Life Work Transitions:

http://www.lifeworktransitions.com/exercises/exercs.html
Scroll down to Chapter 3, “Redefining Your Self: Passions,
Preferences, Purpose,” to access online worksheets corresponding to the book. The worksheets help users to determine
what motivates them at work, their ideal job specification and
what career goals will lead them to fulfillment.

http://www.careerinfonet.org/skills/default.aspx
This interactive assessment allows users of all skill levels to
choose prospective occupations, see the skill sets required,
rate their own skills and compare them to what’s in demand.

Industry Explorations

Personality Assessments
HumanMetrics:

http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
After completing this questionnaire, you will obtain a description of your personality type according to Carl Jung and
Isabel Myers-Briggs typology along with the strengths and
preferences of this personality type. You will also a list of
occupations and educational institutions where you can get
relevant degree or training, most suitable for your personality
type.

True Colors Personality Assessment:

http://www.truecolorscareer.com/quiz.asp
A personality system that is modeled as a graphical presentation of both Keirsey’s Temperament and the Meyers-Briggs
Type Indicator. The assessment asks you to choose one of two

Career GPS:

http://www.ecu.edu/e3careers/gps/CareerGPS.html
Career GPS is an interactive career assessment program
designed to help you identify the fields or industries that
interest you the most. Identifying the ideal workplace setting
is critical to career success.

Occupational Outlook Handbook:

http://www.bls.gov/OCO/
For hundreds of different types of jobs the Occupational
Outlook Handbook tells you the training and education needed,
earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the
job, working conditions, and other valuable information. In
addition, the Handbook gives you job search tips, links to information about the job market in each State, and more.

www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 5

Set Up Your PirateJobs Account
What is PirateJobs?

• J obs & Internships: Access hundreds of current jobs—part-time (on-campus and off-campus) and full-time
jobs. Set up job alerts and receive a message when the job you want is posted.
• Employer Searches: Access thousands of employers and contacts. Search by industry and location.
• Document Management: Safe place to store resumes, cover letters, references and other documents.
• Applications: Apply directly for jobs and track the status of your applications.

Follow these three easy steps to set up your PirateJobs account
Step 1: Registration

• G
o to www.ecu.edu/career
and click on “Students”
• Click on the link to
“PirateJobs”
• Use your Pirate ID, which is
your ECU email login (e.g.,
smithj09) and the password
you created in PirateJobs.
New users have a default
password “0” (zero).

6 East Carolina University

Step 2: Complete your
Profile

• T
ype and fill in all
requested information
(contact, academic and
job search details)
• Complete your entire
profile. An incomplete
profile will limit the
PirateJobs features that
you can use.

• www.ecu.edu/career

Step 3: Upload a resume

• M
eet with a career coach in the ECU
Career Center to discuss and/or
critique your resume
• Have your career coach approve the
final resume draft
• Log on to your PirateJobs account
and click on “documents/upload a
document”
• Click on “documents/your resumes”
to view uploaded resume. Check it for
accuracy.

How to Find the Right Job

F

inding the job you want takes many steps and involves just
as many decisions. This checklist is designed to help you
along the way and guide you to the appropriate sources. Be
sure to discuss your progress with your career advisor.

Knowing What You Want
3 Choose your ideal work environment—large corporation, small business, government agency or nonprofit
­organization.
3 Choose your ideal location—urban, suburban or rural.
3 List your three most useful job skills and know which is
your strongest.
3 Know whether you want to work with people, data or things.
3 Know whether you enjoy new projects or prefer ­following
a regular routine.
3 List some of the main career areas that might interest you.
3 List your favorite leisure time activities.
3 Know what kind of reward is most important to you in a
job—money, security, creative authority, etc.

Researching Career Options
3 Develop a list of career possibilities to research.
3 Visit your career services library and utilize the Internet to
learn about various careers. The Dictionary of Occupational
Titles and the Occupational Outlook Handbook are valuable
resources.
3 Consider whether your desired career requires an
advanced degree.
3 Keep up with current trends in your field through trade
publications, news/business magazines and news­papers.
3 Identify employers interested in interviewing someone
with your academic background and experience; create
a list of three or more employers in the field you are
­considering.
3 Use the Internet to learn more about potential employers
and check out salary surveys and hiring trends in your
anticipated career field.
3 Make at least three professional contacts through friends, relatives or professors to learn more about your field of interest.
3 Meet with faculty and alumni who work or who have
worked in your field to talk about available jobs and the
outlook for your field.

Getting Experience
3 Narrow down the career options you are considering
through coursework and personal research.
3 Participate in a work experience or internship ­program in
your chosen field to learn of the daily requirements of the
careers you are considering. Such assignments can lead to
permanent job offers following ­graduation.
3 Become an active member in one or more professional
associations—consult the Encyclopedia of Associations for
organizations in your field.
3 Volunteer for a community or charitable organization to
gain further work experience. Volunteer positions can and
should be included on your resume.

Creating a Resume
3 Form a clear job objective.
3 Know how your skills and experience support your objective.
3 Use action verbs to highlight your accomplishments.
3 Limit your resume to one page and make sure it is free of
misspelled words and grammatical errors.
3 Create your resume using a word processing program and
have it professionally duplicated on neutral-colored paper,
preferably white, light gray or beige. If you are submitting
your resume online, be sure to include ­relevant keywords
and avoid italics, bold and underlined passages.
3 Compose a separate cover letter to accompany each resume
and address the letter to a specific person. Avoid sending a
letter that begins “Dear Sir/Madam.”

Preparing for the Interview
3 Arrange informational interviews with employees from
companies with which you might want to interview. Use
your network of acquaintances to schedule these meetings.
3 Thoroughly research each employer with whom you have
an interview—be familiar with product lines, services
offered and growth prospects.
3 Practice your interviewing technique with friends to help
prepare for the actual interview.
3 Using the information you have gathered, formulate questions to ask the employer during the interview.
3 Arrive on time in professional business attire.
3 Collect the needed information to write a thank-you ­letter
after each interview.

www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 7

How to Stand Apart From the Crowd

C

ompetition for jobs is at an all-time high, so it’s essential
that you distinguish yourself from other job applicants.
Regardless of the field that you’re entering, individuality matters. Everything you’ve experienced until now—in
the classroom, during after-school jobs and internships, and
through volunteer experiences—sets you apart from your
fellow students. These unique experiences provide knowledge
and abilities that must be demonstrated to potential employers
through the resume, cover letter and interview. This is your
chance to prove that you’re the best candidate for the job and
will make a great addition to their team. Here are some ways
to make sure your true potential shines.

What Makes You Special?

Your roommate may have the exact same major and GPA as
you do, but those factors are only superficial. More importantly: everyone has his or her own set of life experiences that
influence personal growth and skill development. Maybe
you’ve traveled around the world, speak several languages, or
were born in another country. Or perhaps you’ve worked your
way through high school and college to help support your
family. Numbers only tell part of the story. When an employer
is evaluating you for a job, you have to make sure your unique
experiences come through on your resume and cover letter so
that you have the opportunity to elaborate on the details
during the interview.

Go Team!

Employers want hires who can hit the ground running and
work well with others in a team environment. Your academic
experience has been packed with teamwork even if you don’t
realize it. Just think back to all those group projects and study
sessions. Many extracurricular activities from athletics and
fraternities and sororities to clubs, volunteer work and
student government require team participation as well. By
using the language of teamwork and cooperation on your
resume and cover letter, you’ve taken the first step toward
proving that you’re a collaborator. During the interview you
can further express what you’ve learned about yourself and
others through teamwork.

Leadership 101

Teamwork is key, but employers also want candidates who
can step up to the plate and take charge when it’s appropriate.
If you’ve never been class president, however, don’t fear;
leadership can be demonstrated in many subtle ways. In
addition to traditional leadership roles, leaders also take on
responsibility by providing others with information and
advice. If you’ve ever helped a friend with a paper, volunteered to teach a class or given a speech that motivated others,
then you’ve served as a leader. During your interview, speak
confidently about your accomplishments, but don’t cross the
line into arrogance. Good leaders know when to show off, as
well as when to listen to others.

8 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

Art of the Resume

Your resume provides the opportunity to stand out, but don’t
distinguish yourself by using bright-colored paper or an
unusual font. Those tactics are distracting and leave employers
remembering you negatively. Instead, it’s the content of your
resume that will really get you noticed. Make sure to describe
each experience in clear detail; highlight not only what you
did, but also what results were gained from your actions.
Don’t forget to include special skills, such as foreign languages
and international travel.

Cover Letter Zingers

While your resume chronicles your experiences, the cover
letter lets your personality shine through. Here you can
expand upon your past experiences and briefly discuss what
you learned. Use concrete examples from your resume in
order to showcase specific skills and characteristics. Be sure to
tailor each letter to the specific organization and position, and
state specifically why you want to work for the organization.
Demonstrate that you’ve done your research; it will impress
employers and set your letter apart from the rest.

Interview Expert

When it comes to the interview, preparation is key. Be ready
to talk about everything you’ve done in a positive light, and
make sure you’re well informed about the organization and
industry. Focus on what distinguishes the employer from their
competition and why you are a good fit. If possible, speak to
alumni or other current employees to learn more. Remember,
practice makes perfect; many career centers offer mock interviews with a counselor. And don’t be afraid to ask for help
from friends and professionals as you review the answers to
common interview questions.

Do’s and Don’ts
• DO dress the part. Even employers with casual
dress codes expect interviewees to be dressed in
professional business attire.
• DON’T chew gum, wear too much cologne/
perfume or smoke before the interview.

• DO look your interviewer in the eye and offer a
firm handshake.

• DON’T try too hard to please and appear loud or
cocky.

• DO emphasize your skills and accomplishments.

• DON’T make excuses for failures or lack of experience. Instead, take responsibility for your mistakes
and change the subject to something ­positive.
Written by Jennifer Bobrow Burns, Assistant Dean for Career
Services, Quinnipiac University.

Job Search Strategies: Pros and Cons
In addition to the many job search options offered through the ECU Career Center (PirateJobs, Hire A Pirate, Career Fairs, Alumni
Mentors, etc.), there are many other ways to look for a job­—some better than others. Presented below are some of the most popular
ways as well as helpful hints and pros and cons of each.
STRATEGY

Involves minimal investment of time in identifying
companies. Resume and
cover letter are sent for
actual job opening.

Resume and cover letter will • Use as a meter on the job
compete with large number
market in a certain career
of others. Ads ­follow job
field.
market; least effective in
• Try to get your materials
times of ­economic downin as early as possible.
turn.

EMPLOYMENT
AGENCIES
Respond to employment
agency ads in newspapers;
check phone book for names
of agencies to ­contact.

• Resumes
• Business attire

Fee-paid jobs for graduates
in technical fields or those
with marketable
experience.

May be less help to nontechnical/inexperienced
graduates. Be wary if you,
instead of the employer,
have to pay a fee.

One of the primary ways
in which companies recruit
for technical and business
­positions.

May be less effective for
nontechnical/nonbusiness
candidates.

• Use the interview schedule as a way to identify
­possible employers,
even if you don’t get to
­interview on campus
with those employers.

RESUME REFERRAL
Register with one of the
many national referral
­services. As jobs are listed
by employers, the data bank
of registrants is searched for
matches. If your materials
match, they are sent to the
employers.

• Registration form
supplied by service

Another way to monitor
the job market and get
your qualifications to the
­attention of employers.

May involve a fee. Often
more helpful to those in
technical or specialized
fields. May not learn of the
status of your ­materials.

• Use only in conjunction
with other job search
strategies.

Adapted and reprinted with permission from Career Services, Pennsylvania State
University, University Park, PA.

www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 9

Develop Your Power Greeting

T

hroughout your job search and especially when you are
in a job interview, you need to be able to introduce yourself in a powerful way to people who don’t know you.
What you say at that moment will set the tone for the rest of
your interaction. To do this most effectively, you need a Power
Greeting.
A Power Greeting is like a “30-second commercial.” It
provides just enough information to make the listener want to
know more about you and sets a professional tone for the rest
of your interaction.
It is clearly in your best interest to control this introduction and advance preparation is the key. A Power Greeting is
composed of three distinct parts and a follow-up question:
1) Your education and credentials (what you have studied).
2) Your experience in the field (employment, internship/
co-op, volunteer positions).

3) Your strengths (what you do best).
4) An open-ended probing question about their needs, problems, and challenges.
Here’s an example, “Let me tell you about myself, I hold
a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology from East
Carolina University with a minor in Business Administration.
I have a year an a half experience in the field through a
Summer Internship with NACCO Material Handling Group
in Greenville, NC, and a two-semester co-op position with
National Waterworks in Charlotte, NC. I have discovered that
I enjoy supply chain management and Just-in-Time delivery
challenges. I chose this field because I enjoy finding new ways
of solving problems, I am a hands-on person, and I like getting
into the thick of things and dealing with tangible, concrete
problems. What role does logistics play in your business?

Your Turn:
Let me tell you about myself, I hold a ________________ degree in _____________________________________
from East Carolina University (is your minor in ______________________________ related?). I have ________
semesters/years/months/etc. experience in the field of __________________________through _____________
___________________________________________________________________________.
I have discovered that I enjoy _____________________________________________________________________.
I chose this field because _________________________________________________________________________.

Tapping the Hidden Job Market

Y

our off-campus job search should neither begin nor end
with the help wanted ads. Studies have shown that
only 15 percent of available jobs are ever advertised.
It takes much more than merely perusing the classifieds. By
employing a number of methods, you constantly increase your
chances of landing a job. Some techniques you might use:
Networking. Probably the most effective way to meet
potential employers and learn about possible jobs is to tap into
your personal network of contacts. You might think it’s too
early to have professional contacts, but think about everyone
you know—family members and their friends/co-workers,
professors, past employers, neighbors and even your dentist.
Don’t be afraid to inform them of your career interests and
let them know that you are looking for work. They will likely
be happy to help you and refer you to any professionals they
think can be of assistance.
Informational interviewing. This approach allows you
to learn more about your field by setting up interviews with
professionals. The purpose of these interviews is to meet
professionals, gather career information and investigate career
options, get advice on job search techniques and get referrals to
other professionals. When setting up these interviews, either by
phone or letter, make it clear to the employer that you have no

10 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

job expectations and are seeking information only. Interviewing
also familiarizes you to employers, and you may be remembered when a company has a vacant position.
Temporary work. As more companies employ the services
of temporary or contract workers, new graduates are discovering that such work is a good opportunity to gain experience
in their fields. Temporary workers can explore various jobs
and get an inside look at different companies without the
commitment of a permanent job. Also, if a company decides to
make a position permanent, these “temps” already have made
good impressions and often are given first consideration.
Electronic job search. One source of jobs may be as close as
a personal computer. Various online resume services let you
input your resume into a database, which then can be accessed
by companies searching for applicants who meet their criteria.
Companies also post job listings on Web sites to which students
can directly respond by sending their resumes and cover letters.
Persistence is the key to cracking the hidden job market.
Attend meetings of professional associations and become
an active member. After you begin the above processes, and
your network base expands, your search will be made easier.
Employers will appreciate your resourcefulness—and view
you as a viable candidate.

Informational Interviews

A

n informational interview is not an interview for a
job, but rather, a way of getting valuable information about your field(s) of interest. Of course, savvy
job hunters have always used informational interviewing as
a way of networking with potential employers. Informational
interviewing can help you choose a major or industry, and
make connections with people in your field. This type of interviewing may be done in person, by phone, or even by email.

Steps for a successful networking contact:
1. B
e clear about your objective before you call your
contact. Decide what you want to know and rehearse
what you will say.
2. E
xplain why you are calling; be polite, positive, and
businesslike.
3. B
e flexible: Prepare to conduct the interview when you
call, understanding that whomever you call may be
busy and may want to schedule a time to talk with you.
Remember to keep your interview to 30 minutes as a
courtesy.
4. T
ry to schedule a face-to-face meeting whenever
possible to gain exposure to the work environment and
culture.
5. A
sk your contact to recommend others you might speak
to in your specific field or industry.
6. A
sk your contact to keep you in mind should they hear
of any positions or prospects.
7. S
end a thank you note after your call or visit. If appropriate, include your phone number and/or email
address. Ask them to contact you if more information
becomes available or if new opportunities arise.
8. A
fter you obtain employment or an internship, notify all
networking contacts. Tell them briefly about your new
position and thank them again.
You will be surprised to find how many individuals enjoy
speaking about their experiences and career development.
If you aren’t finding any success in contacting professionals
in your field of interest, stop by The Career Center for further
assistance and resources.

Suggested Informational
Interview Questions
About the Career Field
• How did you get into this career?
• W
hat do you do at work on a typical day? What
are your responsibilities?
• What advice do you have for someone preparing
for a career in this field?
• What majors and/or minors do you recommend
for someone interested in this field?
• What courses and/or advanced degree(s) would
be helpful for me?
• What experience is necessary to enter this field?
• What do you like most/least about your job?

About the Organization/Industry
• H
ow did you get into this organization/
industry? What other organizations have you
worked for?
• What is unique to your industry, organization, or
office?
• What do you like most/least about the work you
do? What is your work environment like?
• How does your organization fill job openings? Is
that typical of other organizations in your field?

About Future Growth/Salary Information
• W
hat are the employment prospects for someone
entering this field?
• What is the growth and promotional potential in
your field?
• What areas are growing/changing in this field?
• What is a typical starting salary in this field?
• How do salaries in your field compare with those
of other fields?

Follow-up Questions

You will be surprised to find how many
individuals enjoy speaking about their
experiences and career development.

• C
an you recommend other professionals in this
field with whom I should speak? May I use your
name when I contact them?
• May I contact you again if I have further
questions?
• Which professional publications/organizations
and other resources do you consider relevant?

www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 11

Network Your Way to a Job

M

any people use the classified ads as their sole job
search technique. Unfortunately, statistics show that
only 10% to 20% of jobs are ever published—which
means that 80% to 90% of jobs remain hidden in the job market.
For this reason, networking remains the number one job search
strategy.

Networking Defined

A network is an interconnected group of supporters who
serve as resources for your job search and ultimately for your
career. Some great network contacts might include people
you meet at business and social meetings who provide you
with career information and advice. Students often hesitate
to network because they feel awkward asking for help, but it
should be an integral part of any job search. Though you might
feel nervous when approaching a potential contact, networking
is a skill that develops with practice, so don’t give up. Most
people love to talk about themselves and their jobs and are
willing to give realistic—and free—advice.

Eight Keys to Networking

1. Be Prepared. First, define what information you need

and what you are trying to accomplish by networking.
Remember, your purpose in networking is to get to know
people who can provide information regarding careers
and leads. Some of the many benefits of networking
include increased visibility within your field, propelling
your professional development, finding suitable mentors,
increasing your chances of promotion and perhaps finding
your next job.
Second, know yourself—your education, experience
and skills. Practice a concise, one-minute presentation
of yourself so that people will know the kinds of areas
in which you are interested. Your networking meeting
should include the following elements: introduction, selfoverview, Q&A, obtaining referrals and closing.
2. Be Targeted. Identify your network. For some, “I don’t
have a network. I don’t know anyone,” may be your first
reaction. You can start by listing everyone you know who
are potential prospects: family members, friends, faculty,
neighbors, classmates, alumni, bosses, co-workers and
community associates. Attend meetings of organizations

Questions to Ask During Networking Meetings
• What do you like most (least) about your work?
• Can you describe a typical workday or week?
• What type of education and experience do you
need to remain successful in this field?
• What are the future career opportunities in this field?
• What are the challenges in balancing work and
­personal life?
• Why do people enter/leave this field or company?
• Which companies have the best track record for
promoting minorities?
• What advice would you give to someone trying to
break into this field?
• With whom would you recommend I speak?
When I call, may I use your name?

12 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

in your field of interest and get involved. You never know
where you are going to meet someone who could lead you
to your next job.
3. Be Professional. Ask your networking prospects for
advice—not for a job. Your networking meetings should be
a source of career information, advice and contacts. Start
off the encounter with a firm handshake, eye contact and a
warm smile. Focus on asking for one thing at a time. Your
contacts expect you to represent yourself with your best
foot forward.

4. Be Patient. Heena Noorani, research analyst with New

York-based Thomson Financial, recommends avoiding the
feeling of discouragement if networking does not ­provide
immediate results or instant answers. She advises, “Be
­prepared for a slow down after you get started. Stay
politely persistent with your leads and build momentum.
Networking is like gardening: You do not plant the seed,
then quickly harvest. Networking requires cultivation that
takes time and effort for the process to pay off.”

5. Be Focused on Quality—Not Quantity. In a large

group setting, circulate and meet people, but don’t try
to talk to everyone. It’s better to have a few meaningful
conversations than 50 hasty introductions. Don’t cling to
­people you already know; you’re unlikely to build new
contacts that way. If you are at a reception, be sure to
wear a nametag and collect or exchange business cards so
you can later contact the people you meet.

6. Be Referral-Centered. The person you are networking

with may not have a job opening, but he or she may
know someone who is hiring. The key is to exchange
information and then expand your network by obtaining
additional referrals each time you meet someone new. Be
sure to mention the person who referred you.

7. Be Proactive. Stay organized and track your networking
meetings. Keep a list of your contacts and update it
frequently with the names of any leads given to you. Send
a thank-you note or email if appropriate. Ask if you can
follow-up the conversation with a phone call, or even better,
with a more in-depth meeting in the near future.

8. Be Dedicated to Networking. Most importantly,

­ etworking should be ongoing. You will want to stay in
n
touch with contacts over the long haul—not just when you
need something. Make networking part of your long-term
career plan.

Do’s & Don’ts of Networking
• Do keep one hand free from a briefcase or purse so
you can shake hands when necessary.
• Do bring copies of your resume.
• Don’t tell them your life story; you are dealing with
busy people, so get right to the point.
• Don’t be shy or afraid to ask for what you need.
• Don’t pass up opportunities to network.

Written by Thomas J. Denham, managing partner and career
counselor of Careers in Transition LLC.

Getting the Most Out of a Career Fair

M

any employers use career fairs—both on and off
campus—to promote their opportunities and to
pre-screen applicants. Career fairs come in all
shapes and sizes, from small community-sponsored events
to giant regional career expositions held at major convention
centers.
Most career fairs consist of booths and/or tables manned by
recruiters and other representatives from each organization.
For on-campus events, some employers also send alumni
­representatives. Large corporations and some ­government
agencies have staffs who work the career fair “circuit”
nationwide.
An employer’s display area is also subject to wide variance.
It could be a simple table with a stack of brochures and
business cards and a lone representative or an elaborate
multi­media extravaganza with interactive ­displays, videos,
posters and a team of recruiters.

Fashions and Accessories

The appropriate attire for career fair attendees is what you’d
wear to an actual job interview. In most cases, “business
professional” is the norm. If you’re unsure of the dress code
­(particularly for off-campus events), it would be wise to err on
the overdressed side—you’ll make a better impression if you
appear professional. Think of it as a dress rehearsal for your
real interviews!
Remember to bring copies of your resume (or resumes, if
you have several versions tailored to different career choices),
a few pens and pencils (have backups—they have a way of
disappearing), a folder or portfolio and some sort of notetaking device (a paper or electronic pad). Keep track of the
recruiters with whom you speak and send follow-up notes
to the ones who interest you. Don’t bring your backpack; it’s
cumbersome for you, it gets in the way of others and it screams
“student!” instead of “candidate!”

Stop, Look and Listen

Keep your eyes and ears open—there’s nothing wrong with
subtly eavesdropping on the questions asked and answers
received by your fellow career fair attendees. You might pick
up some valuable information, in addition to witnessing
some real-life career search “dos and don’ts.”
In order to maximize your career fair experience, you must
be an active participant and not just a browser. If all you do
is stroll around, take company literature and load up on the
ubiquitous freebies, you really haven’t accomplished anything
worthwhile (unless you’re a collector of key chains, mousepads and pocket flashlights). It is essential to chat with the
company representatives and ask meaningful questions.
Here’s a great bit of career fair advice from Stanford
University’s guide:
“Create a one-minute ‘commercial’ as a way to sell ­yourself
to an employer. This is a great way to introduce yourself.
The goal is to connect your background to the organization’s need. In one minute or less, you need to introduce
yourself, demonstrate your knowledge of the company,
express enthusiasm and interest and relate your background to the company’s need.”

You’re a Prospector—Start Digging

The questions you ask at a career fair depend upon your goals.
Are you interested in finding out about a particular career field?
Then ask generalized questions about working within the
industry. If you’re seeking career opportunities with a specific
employer, focus your questions on the ­application and interview
process, and ask for specific information about that employer.

Fair Thee Well

By all means, try to attend at least one career fair before
beginning your formal job interviewing process. For new
entrants into the professional career marketplace, this is a
good way to make the transition into “self-marketing mode”
without the formality and possible intimidation of a one-on-one
job interview. It’s an opportunity that’s too valuable to miss.

A Few Words About
Career Fair Etiquette
1. Don’t interrupt the employer reps or your fellow
job-seekers. If someone else is monopolizing the
employer’s time, try to make eye contact with the
rep to let him or her know that you’re interested in
speaking. You may be doing a favor by giving the
recruiter an out. If all else fails, move to the next
exhibit and plan to come back later.
2. If you have a real interest in an employer, find out
the procedures required to secure an interview.
At some career fairs, initial screening interviews
may be done on the spot. Other times, the career
fair is used to pre-screen applicants for interviews
to be ­conducted later (either on campus or at the
employer’s site).
3. Sincerity always wins. Don’t lay it on too
thick, but don’t be too blasé either. Virtually all
employers are looking for candidates with good
­communication skills.

4. Don’t just drop your resume on employers’ display
tables. Try to get it into a person’s hands and at
least say a few words. If the scene is too busy and
you can’t get a word in edgewise, jot a note on your
resume to the effect of, “You were so busy that we
didn’t get a chance to meet. I’m very interested in
talking to you.” Look around the display for the
recruiter’s business card (or at the very least, write
down his or her name and get some literature with
the company’s address) and send a follow-up note
and another copy of your resume.
5. If you know ahead of time that one of your “dream
companies” is a career fair participant, do some
prior research (at minimum, visit their Web site
and, if available, view their company DVD). A
little advance preparation goes a long way and can
make you stand out among the masses of other
attendees.

www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 13

The Art of Writing Resumes
Purpose

Getting a job is a sales process. You are both the product and
the salesperson, and the resume is your advertisement. The
end result may be a job, but no one gets hired from a resume.
As advertising, the purpose of the resume is to cause the
employer to want to talk with you enough to invite you for an
interview. There is no “right way” to put together a resume;
many different styles can be effective. A sure way to know
if your resume is working is whether or not it is getting you
interviews.
Jobs exist because employers have a need, a problem, or
challenge that they want to resolve by hiring an employee. In
other words, they need someone to do something for them.
Your resume should let the employer know that you can help
solve his/her problems. Simply listing your education and
work experience will probably not convey this information.
You must also tell the employer what you could do in your
area of expertise to help them solve their problems. As advertising, your resume does just that: it advertises how you can
help employers solve their problems and why they might
want to pay you a living wage to get that problem solved.
A good resume accomplishes three goals. It tells the
employer: 1) what you can do in their field, 2) what you have
done that relates to the job, and 3) your qualifications for the
job.
A resume is like a map. You have to lead the reader through
each aspect of your resume. It should describe your objective,
capabilities, education, experience, and qualifications. Ideally
in each part of your resume, you will present information that
will make the reader want to read more!
Students are often afraid they cannot land a good job
because they do not have significant work experience. Realize
that what you are selling is potential. You have as much potential as the next person. Your resume is a tool to communicate
that potential. Your first task is to learn your prospective
employer’s needs. Go to http://online.onetcenter.org to find
the occupation(s) you are pursuing. Review the tasks typical
of that position. Decide which tasks are your strongest.

Condense the phrases down into resume suitable tasks and
list them in a Capabilities Profile section. If you are pursuing
jobs in several different fields, you may end up with several
different resumes. Prepare one for each type of job you are
pursing, each emphasizing the different capabilities required
by that field. As you describe the work you have done in the
different positions you have held, use action verbs to communicate effectiveness.
If you are having difficulty identifying what the needs,
problems and challenges of the employer are, come to The
Career Center, and we will be happy to show you how you can
obtain that information.

Styles

Resumes typically fit one of four styles: chronological, functional, accomplishment, or Curriculum Vita (CV). You may
also run into employers who request a scanable resume.
A scanable resume is not an additional style; rather, it is a
specific format that allows any resume to be read by a scanning device. If you need a scanable resume, create a resume
using one of these styles and bring it into The Career Center on
a floppy disk. If you need a scannable resume, contact a Career
Coach at The Career Center for specific guidance.
The Chronological style presents information in chronological (oldest listed first to most recent) or reverse chronological
order (most recent listed first and then going backwards in
time) your job-related volunteer and work experiences.
Functional resumes group your skills and experiences
together based on job-related functional areas regardless of
when they occurred.
Accomplishment resumes emphasize your accomplishments and what you have done well that relates to the needs of
the employer.
The Curriculum Vita is used exclusively for teaching in
higher education. Come to our office for help if you decide
you need to write a CV.

Resume Do’s & Don’ts:
DO:

• use good quality paper (at least 20 lb.) in
white or off-white
• type your resume and use a readable
font and print on a laser printer
• be specific in your objective
• quantify duties when possible
• use short phrases that convey a
positive, concise description of your
accomplishments
• limit your resume to one page if you
have limited work experience
• check the spelling of every word;
make sure grammar and punctuation
are correct
• have your resume proofread by a Career
Coach before sending it to potential
employers

14 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

DON’T:

• include personal information such as
weight, height, marital status, social
security number, age, race, religion, or
political affiliation
• use graphics (unless you are applying
for a graphic arts/design position)
• list detailed descriptions of unrelated
job duties
• use words such as I, me, or my on your
resume
• exaggerate your experience
• start phrases in experience section with
“Responsible for”
• state salary
• use abbreviations without spelling out
what they stand for
• be dishonest about your qualifications
or experience

Resume Content Guidelines
Sections:

Basics:

Suggestions:

• N
ame, address, phone number, and email
address should be at the top of the page.
• Always include area and zip codes. For
current students, list both a college and
home address and phone numbers.

• A
n answering machine can be instrumental in your job search. Be sure your
message is business appropriate.
• If you have roommates or if someone else
could be answering your calls, make sure
they use proper etiquette and relay the
message to you.

Job objectives:

• I nclude an objective to demonstrate to an
employer that you are directed in your
internship/job search. An objective that is
too general will almost certainly not help
you and could in fact work against you.

• T
he job objective category should follow
your name, address, and telephone
number at the top of your resume.

Education:

• B
egin with your most recent educational
experience. Include the degree you expect
to earn or have earned, your major/minor,
university, date of graduation, and GPA.
• Add course highlights as an option.

• L
ist GPA if it is a 3.0 or above. You may
include the GPA in your major if it is
higher than your cumulative GPA.
• List any study abroad or other colleges
attended for a significant period of time.

Honors:

• I nclude academic honors such as the Dean’s
List, scholarships, and honor societies.

• T
hese may be listed under a separate
heading or as a subsection under Education.

Experience:

• I nclude any employment, internships,
significant campus leadership offices,
volunteer work, and relevant class/
research projects.
• Include title, name of organization,
location, and dates for each position.
• Emphasize duties, responsibilities,
skills, abilities, and accomplishments
appropriate to the position for which you
are applying.

• U
se phrases beginning with action verbs
rather than sentences.
• Do not use pronouns in your job
descriptions.
• You do not need to restrict this category to
paid experience.
• You may wish to separate this section into
“Relevant Experience” and “Other
Experience.”

• F
oreign languages, computer skills, and
other relevant skills should be included.

• I f the setting is religious or political, you
may want to use generic descriptions.

• T
here is no need to indicate on your
resume that references are available upon
request. This is assumed and understood.

• C
reate a separate page with the words
“References for Your Name” at the top.
• List names, titles, names of employers,
addresses, and telephone numbers.
• Always ask permission before using anyone’s
name as a reference. Former employers,
internship or volunteer supervisors, and
faculty members are good choices.

Contact information:

Skills:

References:

www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 15

5 Keys to Creating a Targeted Resume
1
2
3
4
5

Analyze the job description

Review job descriptions for the skills, abilities, and qualifications employers are
looking for. It is recommended that you have a specific job in mind when creating
a targeted resume.

Organize your thoughts

Make a list of the categories you wish to include on your resume. This list can
include education/training, volunteer opportunities, jobs, academic research,
travel, and extracurricular activities. If possible, quantify results and use
commonly understood terms. Learn and use terminology on your resume that is
common to the field you are pursuing. List strengths and skills used to achieve
your accomplishments. Always write out or explain technical terms and
abbreviations on your resume.

Create descriptive phrases

Create short phrases to describe your job duties. Avoid using diluted phrases
such as “responsible for” or “in charge of.” Arrange the descriptive phrases in
order of importance to the position.

Ensure resume is letter perfect

Misspelled words, grammatical, or punctuation errors will generally disqualify
you from any position for which you apply.

Have your resume critiqued by a Career Coach

You may have The Career Center liaison assigned to your specific college critique
your resume.

A resume is a document
that summarizes and
highlights your job-related
skills, experiences, and
activities. The purpose of
most resumes is to obtain an
interview for an internship
or job. College and graduate
admissions offices, scholarship programs, etc., may
also request a resume
during the application
process.

An employer spends an
average of 15 to 20
seconds reviewing a
resume. Make your first
impression a good one.

Resume Evaluation Form
Objective

q Yes q No Does the objective explain what job you want
(entry level, Marketing Assistant, etc.)?
q Yes q No Does the objective say where you want to do it
(healthcare, banking, construction, etc.)?
q Yes q No Does the objective contain 3 major skills or task
areas you want to use that are relevant to this
position?

Qualifications

q Yes q No Does the resume prove you have the necessary
qualifications?
q Yes q No Do your qualifications clearly summarize your
value to an employer?
q Yes q No Does it present the key strengths required to be
successful on the job?
q Yes q No Does it demonstrate that you have the appropriate technical skills?
q Yes q No Have you listed relevant professional affiliations?
q Yes q No Is the language of the resume future-oriented
and focused on what you can do to benefit an
employer?

Accomplishments

q Yes q No Are there separate accomplishments for your
key work experiences?
q Yes q No Do all of the accomplishments listed clearly support
your job objective and qualifications claims?
q Yes q No Are they presented through the use of powerful
and action verbs?
q Yes q No Are there clear, quantifiable results?

16 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

Education & Certification

q Yes q No Do you have the appropriate educational
degrees that support your objective?
q Yes q No If not, have you used other training workshops and
seminars to further enhance your qualifications?
q Yes q No Does the information include type of degree,
major, school, and year graduated?
q Yes q No Does it provide key aspects like certification or
licensure?

Experience

q Yes q No For each experience, do you list a job title,
company name, location, and years (but not
months) worked?
q Yes q No Are the experiences listed important to the
employer?

q Yes q No Is everything on the resume important to the
employer?
q Yes q No Have you been honest, but not overly detailed?
q Yes q No Do you use italics, bolding and underlining to
indicate importance?

SUMMARY
Having just completed a bachelor’s degree in Communication with a concentration in Print
Journalism, I offer you current knowledge in the areas of concept development, layout design,
quality control, publication standards, and presentation approaches. Big-picture oriented and good
at long-range planning, I enjoy strategic planning, production coordination, project management,
and providing excellent customer service.

Planning/Budgets
• Managed and planned an operating budget of $1.5 million, consisting of equipment and facilities.
• Developed and revised daily, weekly and monthly plans of sales strategies.

Management
• Trained and managed staff of 4 sales associates and 15 sales assistants.
• Received Sports Authority Chairman’s Award for outstanding performance out of a division
of 15 assistant managers.
• Created and implemented improved customer service program through development of a new
training program and employee incentive program.

INTERIM HEALTHCARE, Greenville, NC
June 2003 - August 2003
Receptionist/Front Office
Interim Healthcare is a home health care service provider. I was responsible
for patient scheduling, providing administrative assistance, collecting
monies due, switchboard, and posting financial records.
Accomplishments:
3 Modified all files to conform to HIPPA confidentiality regulations
3 Developed computerized scheduling system which provided doctors with
their daily schedule

EXPERIENCE
DSM Pharmaceuticals, Greenville, NC
August 2003 - Present
Promotional Assistant (January - Present)
Student Intern (August - December, 2004)
DSM is a leading provider of contract manufacturing to the pharmaceutical and
biotechnology industries specializing in oral and topical services. I assisted
in the development of marketing and product promotion materials when the
company purchased Roche Vitamins, Carotinoids, and Fine Chemicals.
Accomplishments:
3 Designed slicks on four products which were mailed to over four thousand
companies
3 Developed three product advertisements which were published in
regional and industry publications
3 Wrote “Investors Highlights” for company annual report

The Top Ten Pitfalls in Resume Writing
1. Too long. Most new graduates should restrict their
resumes to one page. If you have trouble condensing, get
help from a technical or business writer or a career center
professional.
2. Typographical, grammatical or spelling errors. These
errors suggest carelessness, poor education and/or lack
of intelligence. Have at least two people proofread your
resume. Don’t rely on your computer’s spell-checkers or
­grammar-­checkers.
3. Hard to read. A poorly typed or copied resume looks
unprofessional. Use a plain typeface, no smaller than
a 12-point font. Asterisks, bullets, under­lining, boldface type and italics should be used only to make the
document easier to read, not fancier. Again, ask a professional’s opinion.
4. Too verbose. Do not use complete sentences or paragraphs. Say as much as possible with as few words as
possible. A, an and the can almost always be left out. Be
careful in your use of ­jargon and avoid slang.
5. Too sparse. Give more than the bare essentials, especially
when describing related work experience, skills, accomplishments, activities, interests and club memberships that
will give employers important information. Including
membership in the Society of Women Engineers, for
example, would be helpful to employers who wish to hire
more women, yet cannot ask for that information.

6. Irrelevant information. Customize each resume to each
­position you seek (when possible). Of course, include
all ­education and work experience, but emphasize only
­relevant experience, skills, accomplishments, activities and
hobbies. Do not include marital status, age, sex, ­children,
height, weight, health, church ­membership, etc.
7. Obviously generic. Too many resumes scream, “I need
a job—any job!” The employer needs to feel that you are
­interested in that particular position with his or her
particular company.
8. Too snazzy. Of course, use good quality bond paper,
but avoid exotic types, colored paper, photographs,
binders and graphics. Electronic resumes should include
appropriate industry keywords and use a font size
between 10 and 14 points. Avoid underlining, italics or
graphics.
9. Boring. Make your resume as dynamic as possible.
Begin every statement with an action verb. Use active
verbs ­to describe what you have accomplished in past
jobs. Take ­advantage of your rich vocabulary and avoid
repeating words, ­especially the first word in a section.
10. Too modest. The resume showcases your qualifications
in competition with the other applicants. Put your best
foot ­forward without misrepresentation, falsification or
arrogance.

The Three Rs
The three R’s of resume writing are Research, Research,
Research. You must know what the prospective ­company
does, what the position involves and whether you will be a
fit, before submitting your resume. And that means doing
research—about the company, about the ­position and
about the type of employee the company ­typically hires.
Research the company. Read whatever literature the
­company has placed in the career library. For additional
­information, call the company. Ask for any literature it
may have, find out how the company is structured and
ask what qualities the company generally looks for in its
employees. Ask if there are openings in your area, and
find out the name of the department head and give him
or her a call. Explain that you are considering applying to
their company, and ask for their recommendation for next
steps. Thank that person for the information, and ask to
whom your resume should be directed.
The Internet is another key tool to utilize in your
research. Most companies have Web sites that include
information regarding company background, community
involvement, special events, executive bios or even past
annual reports. Be sure to take advantage of the World
Wide Web during your job search.
Research the position. The more you know about the
­position, the better able you will be to sell yourself and to

20 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

t­ arget your resume to that position. If possible, interview
­someone who does that same job. In addition to finding
out the duties, ask if there is on-the-job training, whether
they value education over experience (or vice versa) and
what kind of turnover the department experiences. Ask
what they like about the position and the company; more
important, ­­ask what they don’t like about it.
Finally, research yourself. Your goal is not just to
get a job. Your goal is to get a job that you will enjoy.
After you find out all you can about the company and
the ­position, ask yourself honestly whether this is what
you really want to do and where you really want to be.
The odds are overwhelming that you will not hold this
­position for more than two or three years, so it’s not a
lifetime commitment; however, this first job will be the
base of your lifetime career. You must start ­successfully
so that future ­recommendations will always be ­positive.
Furthermore, three years is a long time to spend doing
­something you don’t like, working in a position that isn’t
­challenging or living somewhere you don’t want to live.
One last word of advice: Before you go to the interview,
review the version of your resume that you submitted to
this employer. The resume can only get you the interview;
the interview gets you the job.

Transferable Skills

I

f you’re wondering what skills you have that would interest a

potential employer, you are not alone. Many college seniors
feel that four (or more) years of college haven’t ­sufficiently
prepared them to begin work after graduation. And like these
students, you may have carefully reviewed your work history
(along with your campus and civic involvement) and you may
still have a difficult time seeing how the skills you learned in
college will transfer to the workplace.
But keep in mind that you’ve been acquiring skills since
childhood. Whether learning the value of teamwork by
playing sports, developing editing skills working on your
high school newspaper or developing countless skills while
completing your coursework, each of your experiences has laid
the groundwork for building additional skills.

What Are Transferable Skills?

A transferable skill is a “portable skill” that you deliberately
(or inadvertently, if you haven’t identified them yet) take
with you to other life experiences.
Your transferable skills are often:
• acquired through a class (e.g., an English major who is
taught technical writing)
• acquired through experience (e.g., the student government representative who develops strong motivation
and consensus building skills)
Transferable skills supplement your degree. They provide
an employer concrete evidence of your readiness and qualifications for a position. Identifying your transferable skills
and communicating them to potential employers will greatly
increase your success during the job search.
Remember that it is impossible to complete college without
acquiring transferable skills. Campus and community activities,
class projects and assignments, athletic activities, internships
and summer/part-time jobs have provided you with countless
experiences where you’ve acquired a range of skills—many
that you may take for granted.

Identifying Transferable Skills

While very closely related (and with some overlap), transferable skills can be divided into three subsets:
• Working With People • Working With Things
• Working With Data/Information
For example, some transferable skills can be used in every
workplace setting (e.g., organizing or public speaking) while
some are more applicable to specific settings (e.g., drafting
or accounting).
The following are examples of skills often acquired
through the classroom, jobs, athletics and other activities.
Use these examples to help you develop your own list of the
transferable skills you’ve acquired.
Working With People
• Selling • Training • Teaching • Supervising
• Organizing • Soliciting • Motivating • Mediating
• Advising • Delegating • Entertaining
• Representing • Negotiating • Translating

Now that you know what transferable skills are, let’s put
together a list of your transferable skills. You may want to
work with someone in The Career Center to help you identify
as many transferable skills as possible.
Step 1. Make a list of every job title you’ve held (part-time,
full-time and internships), along with volunteer, sports and
other affiliations since starting college. (Be sure to record
officer positions and other leadership roles.)
Step 2. Using your transcript, list the classes in your major
field of study along with foundation courses. Include
­electives that may be related to your employment interests.
Step 3. For each job title, campus activity and class you’ve
just recorded, write a sentence and then underline the
action taken. (Avoid stating that you learned or gained
experience in any skill. Instead, present your skill more
directly as a verifiable qualification.)
“While working for Jones Engineering, I performed 3D
modeling and drafting.”
NOT “While working for Jones Engineering, I gained experience in 3D modeling and drafting.”
“As a member of the Caribbean Students Association, I developed and coordinated the marketing of club events.”
NOT “As a member of the Caribbean Students Association, I
learned how to market events.”
Step 4. Make a list of the skills/experiences you’ve identified for future reference during your job search.

Using Transferable Skills in the Job Search

Your success in finding the position right for you will
depend on your ability to showcase your innate talents and
skills. You will also need to demonstrate how you can apply
these skills at an employer’s place of business. Consult the
staff at your career services office to help you further identify
relevant transferable skills and incorporate them on your
resume and during your interviews. During each interview,
be sure to emphasize only those skills that would be of particular interest to a specific employer.
Transferable skills are the foundation upon which you will
build additional, more complex skills as your career unfolds.
Start making your list of skills and you’ll discover that you
have more to offer than you realized!

Additional Tips to Help Identify Your Transferable Skills
1. Review your list of transferable skills with someone
in your field(s) of interest to help you identify any
additional skills that you may want to include.
2. Using a major job posting Web site, print out descriptions of jobs that interest you to help you identify
skills being sought. (Also use these postings as guides
for terminology on your resume.)
3. Attend career fairs and company information sessions
to learn about the skills valued by specific companies
and industries.
Written by Rosita Smith.
www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 21

Job Interviewing in Brief
I. Preparation
A. Identify the tasks you would perform on the job.
B. Research the needs, problems, and challenges the
company is facing that might cause them to hire you.
C. Create at least ten open-ended questions probing into
the issues you’ve identified to ask the interviewer.
D. Identify what you have to offer the employer and how
this position is a good fit for you.
E. Create stories using Situation, Action, Consequence
(SAC) format to demonstrate your ability to assist in
solving the problems identified. Pick up a handout on
this format from The Career Center.
F. Obtain a list of common interview questions and write
out your answers (pick one up at The Career Center)
G. Practice answering these questions paying particular
attention to your non-verbal body language.
H. Review the common illegal questions and decide how
you will respond.
I. Review your resume and identify the questions it
creates.
J. Prepare a list of possible situations you might face on
the job and how you would handle each one.
K. Print off extra copies of what you submitted for the job
(e.g., resume, application, etc.).
L. What type of interview will you be having? How might
that affect your preparation?
M. Call the day before to confirm your appointment and
find out with whom you will be meeting.
N. Identify how employees in your area of the company
dress to aid in your outfit decisions.
O. Outline what you plan to do and say to create a great
first and last impression.

II. Selling Yourself in the Interview
A. Turn off your cell phone and leave it in the car.
B. Your goal is to avoid being screened out.
C. Visualize yourself being successful in the interview.
D. Enter the office no more than ten minutes beforehand.
E. Start the interview off right with a great first
impression and a power greeting (see page 10).
F. Expect the Interviewer to take notes during the
meeting, but resist the urge to do so yourself.
G. Create a discussion environment instead of a
cross-examination environment by how you position
yourself, your non-verbals, the questions you ask, and
your efforts to put the interviewer at ease.
H. Look for opportunities to give SACs followed by
probing questions.

22 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

I. When you don’t know how to answer a question, give
them a SAC.
J. Use their last question as an opportunity to summarize
their needs, why they should hire you, and ASK for the
job.
K. Do not negotiate anything until they make you an
offer—dodge salary questions until then.
L. End the interview with a strong last impression.

III. Interview Follow-Up
A. Complete an After-Interview Questionnaire (from The
Career Center) before you leave the parking lot.
B. Write down what new things you learned about their
needs, problems and challenges.
C. Write down what you need to do differently at the next
interview.
D. Prepare an after-interview thank-you letter for
everyone who interviewed you.
E. Be prepared to follow up with the interviewer using
various forms—letter, email, phone call—over time
until a hiring decision is made but not to the extent that
it will be seen as harassment.
F. When calling the decision-maker, don’t leave a
message—keep control of the process by asking when
would be a better time to reach him/her.

Dress to Impress!

W

hile fashion trends on the street change, many principles of dressing for interviews have stayed the
same. Keep these points in mind when preparing for
an interview. You want to present a professional image to the
employer and nonverbally communicate that you want the
position more than other candidates. These tips will help you
dress for success.

Males

• D
ark suits (black or navy) in natural fabrics (wool or
cotton) are safe bets
• Wear polished dress shoes (solid heels, complete soles,
and no scuffs)
• Socks should complement your pant color and have
strong elastic so they stay up
• Ties should be conservative, limited to small patterns or
solid colors
• Pockets should be free from bulging wallets, tobacco
products, or jingling coins
• Remove earrings and other piercings; cover up visible
tattoos
• Facial hair and nails should be clean and cut short

Females

• Wear neutral colors (black, navy, and gray are still best)
• C
onsider the suit as the primary mode of dress for most
interviews
• Skirt lengths that are not revealing (no higher than 2
inches above knee)
• Makeup should be minimal and hair neatly styled and
away from your face
• Avoid flashy, excessive jewelry, remove body piercings,
and cover visible tattoos
• Wear polished pumps or dress flats
• Non-textured, neutral hose or socks that complement
your attire
• Clear or conservative nail polish on an appropriate nail
length
• Keep purse size small and hands-free
Consider the cliché, “You never get a second chance to
make a first impression.”You do not have to spend a thousand dollars for a suit. A well-groomed appearance goes a
long way. Like it or not, some employers will form an opinion
about you before you even speak!

10 Tips for a Successful Interview
1. D
ress appropriately and use good manners. Your appearance should be neat and clean, pressed and polished.
Always remember to say please and thank you.
2. B
e on time. If you are late for the interview, the employer
may decide that you are not really interested in the job or
that you would show up late for work.
3. S
how that you are knowledgeable about the company.
Interviewers are inclined to look more favorably on a
candidate who has made the effort to research the
Company and the position.
4. T
hink­—tropical breezes. Self-doubts and fear of failure
can damage a job interview. Be calm and aware of any
nervous behavior (nail-biting, hair twirling, etc.). Do some
deep, slow breathing exercises before entering the meeting
room.
5. U
nfreeze your face...SMILE! Smiling exudes a positive
attitude, confidence, and can make the interview more
rewarding for both parties. Show your enthusiasm for the
opportunity to meet with the potential employer.

6. P
ractice good communication skills. It is important that
you exhibit professional communication skills during the
interview. Speak clearly and effectively, listen attentively,
maintain eye contact, and resist distractions that may steal
your attention.
7. P
ractice answering questions. Anticipate questions that
may be asked during the interview and prepare answers
beforehand to some of the more difficult or sensitive
questions.
8. F
ollow the interviewer’s lead and stick to the point.
Listen carefully; sometimes an interviewer will rephrase
a question to check for alertness and consistency. The
interviewer is also interested in experience and attitudes
that might affect your performance on the job. Avoid
discussing details of your personal life.
9. E
xpress your interest in the job. Ask if you can call back at
a certain time to find out about the decision.
10. Send a thank-you letter. Thank the interviewer for his or her
time, and stress your desire for the job. Restate your qualifications and mention a couple things you learned during the
interview.

www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 23

Questions Asked by Employers
Personal

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What are your hobbies?
3. Why did you choose to interview with our ­organization?
4. Describe your ideal job.
5. What can you offer us?
6. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths?
7. Can you name some weaknesses?
8. Define success. Failure.
9. Have you ever had any failures? What did you learn from
them?
10. Of which three accomplishments are you most proud?
11. Who are your role models? Why?
12. How does your college education or work experience relate
to this job?
13. What motivates you most in a job?
14. Have you had difficulty getting along with a former
professor/supervisor/co-worker and how did you handle
it?
15. Have you ever spoken before a group of people? How
large?
16. Why should we hire you rather than another ­candidate?
17. What do you know about our organization (products or
services)?
18. Where do you want to be in five years? Ten years?
19. Do you plan to return to school for further ­education?

Education

20. Why did you choose your major?

21. Why did you choose to attend your college or university?
22. Do you think you received a good education? In what ways?
23. In which campus activities did you participate?
24. Which classes in your major did you like best? Least? Why?
25. Which elective classes did you like best? Least? Why?
26. If you were to start over, what would you change about
your education?

27. Do your grades accurately reflect your ability? Why or why
not?
28. Were you financially responsible for any portion of your
college education?

Experience

29. What job-related skills have you developed?
30. Did you work while going to school? In what positions?
31. What did you learn from these work experiences?
32. What did you enjoy most about your last employment?
Least?
33. Have you ever quit a job? Why?
34. Give an example of a situation in which you provided a
solution to an employer.
35. Give an example of a time in which you worked under
deadline pressure.
36. Have you ever done any volunteer work? What kind?
37. How do you think a former supervisor would describe your
work?

Career Goals

38. Do you prefer to work under supervision or on your own?
39. What kind of boss do you prefer?
40. Would you be successful working with a team?
41. Do you prefer large or small organizations? Why?
42. What other types of positions are you considering?
43. How do you feel about working in a structured environment?
44. Are you able to work on several assignments at once?
45. How do you feel about working overtime?
46. How do you feel about travel?
47. How do you feel about the possibility of relocating?
48. Are you willing to work flextime?
Before you begin interviewing, think about these questions
and possible responses and discuss them with a career advisor.
Conduct mock interviews and be sure you are able to communicate clear, unrehearsed answers to interviewers.

Questions to Ask Employers
1. Please describe the duties of the job for me.
2. What kinds of assignments might I expect the first six
months on the job?
3. Are salary adjustments geared to the cost of living or job
­performance?
4. Does your company encourage further education?
5. How often are performance reviews given?
6. What products (or services) are in the development stage
now?
7. Do you have plans for expansion?
8. What are your growth projections for next year?
9. Have you cut your staff in the last three years?
10. How do you feel about creativity and individuality?
11. Do you offer flextime?
12. Is your company environmentally conscious? In what
ways?
13. In what ways is a career with your company better than one
with your competitors?
14. Is this a new position or am I replacing someone?
15. What is the largest single problem facing your staff (department) now?
16. May I talk with the last person who held this ­position?

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• www.ecu.edu/career

17. What is the usual promotional time frame?
18. Does your company offer either single or dual career-track
programs?
19. What do you like best about your job/company?
20. Once the probation period is completed, how much
authority will I have over decisions?
21. Has there been much turnover in this job area?
22. Do you fill positions from the outside or promote from
within first?
23. What qualities are you looking for in the candidate who fills
this position?
24. What skills are especially important for someone in this
position?
25. What characteristics do the achievers in this company seem
to share?
26. Is there a lot of team/project work?
27. Will I have the opportunity to work on special ­projects?
28. Where does this position fit into the organizational
structure?
29. How much travel, if any, is involved in this position?
30. What is the next course of action? When should I expect to
hear from you or should I contact you?

Are You Ready for a Behavioral Interview?

“T

ell me about a time when you were on a team, and
one of the members wasn’t carrying his or her
weight.” If this is one of the leading questions in
your job interview, you could be in for a behavioral interview. Based on the premise that the best way to predict
future behavior is to determine past behavior, this style of
interviewing is popular among recruiters.
Today, more than ever, each hiring decision is critical.
Behavioral interviewing is designed to minimize personal
impressions that might cloud the hiring decision. By focusing
on the applicant’s actions and behaviors, rather than
subjective impressions that can sometimes be misleading,
interviewers can make more accurate hiring decisions.
A manager of staff planning and college rela­tions for a major
chemical company believes, “Although we have not ­conducted
any formal studies to de­ter­­mine whether retention or success
on the job has been affected, I feel our move to behavioral
interviewing has been successful. It helps concentrate
recruiters’ questions on areas important to our candidates’
success within [our company].” The company introduced
behavioral interviewing in the mid-1980s at ­several sites and
has since implemented it companywide.

Behavioral vs. Traditional Interviews

If you have training or experience with traditional interviewing techniques, you may find the behavioral interview
quite different in several ways:
4 Instead of asking how you would behave in a particular
situation, the interviewer will ask you to describe how
you did behave.
4 Expect the interviewer to question and probe (think of
“peeling the layers from an onion”).
4 The interviewer will ask you to provide details and will not
allow you to theorize or generalize about events.
4 The interview will be a more structured process that will
concentrate on areas that are important to the interviewer,
rather than allowing you to concentrate on areas that you
may feel are important.
4 You may not get a chance to deliver any prepared stories.
4 Most interviewers will be taking notes throughout the
interview.
The behavioral interviewer has been trained to objectively
collect and evaluate information and works from a profile
of desired behaviors that are needed for success on the job.
Because the behaviors a candidate has demonstrated in
previous positions are likely to be repeated, you will be asked
to share situations in which you may or may not have exhibited these behaviors. Your answers will be tested for accuracy
and consistency.
If you are an entry-level candidate with no previous related
experience, the interviewer will look for behaviors in situations similar to those of the target position:
“Describe a major problem you have faced and how you dealt
with it.”
“Give an example of when you had to work with your hands to
accomplish a task or project.”
“What class did you like the most? What did you like about it?”
Follow-up questions will test for consistency and determine
if you exhibited the desired behavior in that situation:
“Can you give me an example?”

“What did you do?”
“What did you say?”
“What were you thinking?”
“How did you feel?”
“What was your role?”
“What was the result?”
You will notice an absence of such questions as, “Tell me
about your strengths and weaknesses.”

How to Prepare for a Behavioral Interview
4 Recall recent situations that show favorable behaviors or
actions, especially those involving coursework, work experience, leadership, teamwork, initiative, planning and
customer service.
4 Prepare short descriptions of each situation; be ready to
give details if asked.
4 Be sure each story has a beginning, a middle and an end;
i.e., be ready to describe the situation, your action and the
outcome or result.
4 Be sure the outcome or result reflects positively on you
(even if the result itself was not favorable).
4 Be honest. Don’t embellish or omit any part of the story.
The interviewer will find out if your story is built on a weak
foundation.
4 Be specific. Don’t generalize about several events; give a
detailed accounting of one event.
A possible response to the question, “Tell me about a time
when you were on a team and a member wasn’t pulling his
or her weight” might go as follows: “I had been assigned
to a team to build a canoe out of concrete. One of our team
members wasn’t showing up for our lab sessions or doing
his assignments. I finally met with him in private, explained
the frustration of the rest of the team and asked if there was
anything I could do to help. He told me he was preoccupied
with another class that he wasn’t passing, so I found someone
to help him with the other course. He not only was able to
spend more time on our project, but he was also grateful to me
for helping him out. We finished our project on time and got a
‘B’ on it.”
The interviewer might then probe: “How did you feel when
you confronted this person?” “Exactly what was the nature of
the project?” “What was his responsibility as a team member?”
“What was your role?” “At what point did you take it upon
yourself to confront him?” You can see it is important that you
not make up or “shade” information and why you should have
a clear memory of the entire incident.

Don’t Forget the Basics

Instead of feeling anxious or threatened by the prospect
of a behavioral interview, remember the essential difference
between the traditional interview and the behavioral interview: The traditional interviewer may allow you to project
what you might or should do in a given situation, whereas the
behavioral interviewer is looking for past actions only. It will
always be important to put your best foot forward and make
a good impression on the interviewer with appropriate attire,
good grooming, a firm handshake and direct eye contact.
There is no substitute for promptness, courtesy, preparation,
enthusiasm and a positive attitude.

www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 25

Employment References
1 . Who should serve as your references?
• Ask people who have a positive opinion of you and who
can describe your work-related qualities and personal
characteristics.
• Past and present employers usually know about your
reliability, initiative and ability to work with others. This
information is valuable, even if your employment was not
career-related.
• Faculty members know about your academic ability,
productivity, and timeliness, and perhaps have observed
how you work with others.
• Advisors and coaches may be aware of information about
you that could be relevant to a potential employer—such
as maturity, initiative, interpersonal skills or leadership
qualities.
• Don’t list references who only know you in a social capacity
or are simply friends of your family.
2 . Getting permission
• Never give someone’s name as a reference without securing
that person’s permission in advance.
• Verify spelling of names, titles, and all contact information
for your references.
• Give each person who agrees to serve as a reference for
you a copy of your resume (or vita). This lets your references know about your interests, abilities and experiences.
A faculty member may know your academic skills and an
employer may know your on-the-job characteristics, but
each may not be aware of the other facets of your background. Keeping your references well informed will help
them serve as better references for you.
• Keep your references posted on your activities and
progress. Tell your references the names of persons and
organizations to whom you’ve given their names.
• When possible, give them a copy of the job description for the
positions for which you are applying. This helps your references be prepared for phone calls and letters they may receive.
• Thank each reference in writing for his/her assistance.
3. When to give your reference list to a prospective
employer:
• Provide reference information when you are asked to
provide it. If you reach the interview stage and have not been
asked for reference information, you may want to offer it.
• Generally do not send reference information with your
resume unless it has been requested.
• Contacting references is time‑consuming, and most
employers will do some initial screening of candidates—by
reviewing the resume and perhaps conducting interviews—before contacting references.
• For most undergraduates, employers will not be
contacting references prior to interviewing you.
4 . Where to list references:
• On a resume DON’T. It is unnecessary to state “References
available upon request”—and is often a waste of valuable
space—because most employers assume you can supply
references. They expect them on a separate page when
requested.

26 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

• On a curriculum vitae DO list references. It is customary
practice to include your reference list on this document.
5 . What should references say?:
Encourage them to mention:
• Capacity in which they know/knew you (i.e., summer
intern and she was the supervisor),
• Time frame of the relationship (i.e., summer of 2006 or
has known the candidate for four years), and
• Positive qualities demonstrated in the position (i.e.,
visited work sites, designed floor plans on CAD, and
presented proposals to clients).
• If your references are not sure what to say, refer them to
www.ecu.edu/e3careers/pdf/facultytools/Writing
References.pdf.

Correspondence Principles for
Hard Copy and Email
1. For All Business Correspondence, Keep in Mind the
Following

• Individualize. While there are specific components to types
of letters, each letter should be individually tailored and
targeted to the recipient. There is no such thing as an effective “form letter” in a job search. (You know when you get a
form letter in the mail; a prospective employer knows too.)
• Edit. Grammar, spelling and punctuation should be
error-free; wording should be clear, concise and businesslike; avoid gimmicky language and slang terms.
• Be yourself. Be your formal, business-like self, but
express yourself in a manner which is natural to you.
Avoid too much “borrowing” of language from sample
letters and friends’ letters. Use good examples as inspiration, but don’t copy.
• Paper. Use 81/2 x 11 inch, good-quality paper; preferably
the same paper as used for your resume. (Particularly
for your resume, make sure you choose paper which
produces clean photocopies. Some papers with flecks
make hazy copies.)
• Print quality for hard copies. Produce laser-quality print;
choose a proportionally spaced font (like this), rather than
an evenly spaced font (like this). You may choose
either serif type (like this) or sans serif type (like this).
• Email issues. Email is written correspondence. Apply the
same rules as in hard copy correspondence: use correct
spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and correctly use
upper and lower case.
• Record-keeping. Retain a copy of every letter and
email you send and receive; mark your calendar for any
appropriate follow-up.

2. Personalizing Your Correspondence

In addition to the items listed previously, there are generally
accepted guidelines for types of business letters. Guidelines
and samples of specific types follow. In determining exactly
how to word your own letter, think about the purpose of
your letter and details of your individual circumstances. For
example, if you make a telephone call to an employer prior to
sending a cover letter, it makes sense for your letter to refer
to the telephone call. If you must respond to an employer’s
letter to you, read the letter carefully to draft an appropriate
response.

3. Cover Letters: Letters of Application and Inquiry

Cover letters generally fall into one of two categories:
1. Letter of application: applying for a specific, advertised
opening; and
2. Letter of inquiry: expressing interest in an organization,
but you are not certain if there are current openings.

Purpose:

• Explains why you are sending a resume. Don’t send
a resume without a cover letter; it’s discourteous and
naïve to do so. Don’t make the reader guess what you are
asking for; be specific: Do you want a summer internship
opportunity, or a permanent position at graduation; are
you inquiring about future employment possibilities?
• Tells specifically how you learned about the position or
the organization—a flyer posted in your department, a

web site, a family friend who works at the organization.
It is appropriate to mention the name of someone who
suggested that you write. The employer wants to know
how and where you learned about the company and the
job.
• Convinces the reader to look at your resume. The cover
letter will be seen first; therefore, it must be very well
written and targeted to that employer and the job. Pay
attention to the qualifications listed in the job descriptions. Market yourself accordingly!
• Calls attention to elements of your background (education,
leadership, experience) that are relevant to a position you
are seeking. Be as specific as possible, using examples.
• Reflects your attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communication skills.
• Provides or refers to any information which is specifically requested in a job advertisement which might not
be covered in your resume (such as availability date, or
reference to an attached writing sample).
• Indicates what you will do to follow up.
• In a letter of application (applying for an advertised
opening), applicants often say something like “I look
forward to hearing from you.” However, it is advisable
to take the initiative to follow up, saying something
like, “I will contact you in the next two weeks to see if
you require any additional information regarding my
qualifications.”
• In a letter of inquiry (asking about the possibility of an
opening) don’t assume the employer will contact you.
You should say something like, “I will contact you in
two weeks to learn more about upcoming employment
opportunities with (name of organization).” Then mark
your calendar to make the call.

4. Information-Seeking Letters

To draft an effective cover letter, you need to indicate that
you know something about the employing organization.
Sometimes, even with research efforts, you don’t have enough
information to do this. In such a case it is appropriate to write
requesting information.
After you receive the desired information you can then draft
a follow-up letter which:
• thanks the sender for the information;
• explains why you would be a good job candidate for that
organization based on the information; and
• explains why you are sending your resume.

5. Thank-You / Follow-up Letters

A thank-you letter should be written after:
• An interview
• A contact is helpful to you in a telephone conversation
• Someone mails/emails information to you at your request
• A contact was helpful to you at a career fair
• You visit a contact at their work site and
• Any other contact for which you want to express thanks
and develop a good relationship.

6. Acknowledging a Job Offer

Courtesy dictates that you acknowledge a written job offer,
even if you are not ready to accept or decline it. Take note of
www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 27

the details of the offer and respond appropriately. Items to
remember:
• Thank the employer for the opportunity presented.
• Indicate that you understand the terms of the offer, or if
you don’t, ask for clarification.
• A smart employer will know that you need to consider
various employment options in order to make a wise
decision; you may need to compare the offer to another
pending offer.
• However, you may need to make a decision before you
know whether or not you will receive another offer.
• Consult your Career Coach if you need assistance
handling offers or making a decision.

7. Requesting an Extension of Deadline to Respond to a
Job Offer
• You may ask for an extension; the employer does not
have to grant it.
• Make sure you have a good reason for asking for
an extension. Are you waiting to hear from another
employer about an offer, or are you just hoping to get
more interviews?
• Don’t wait until the last minute to ask for an extension;
this looks like you don’t think ahead and may indicate
that you might behave the same way on the job.
• Be tactful and diplomatic in your wording.

8. Declining a Job Offer

• If you choose to decline a job offer, do so courteously, in
writing, after making a phone call.
• Never say anything negative in writing about the
employer, even if you had a negative experience.
• If you had a very negative experience, discuss it with
your Career Coach.
• A decision to decline an offer is usually based on the fact
that another offer is a better fit for your interests and
goals. It is fine to state this, without giving details about
why the declined offer is not a fit.
• It is not necessary to state whose offer you accepted, but
you may do so if you wish.
• Remember that this employer may be a contact for you in
the future. Maintain professional, courteous relations.

9. Accepting an Offer and Withdrawing From Search
for Other Jobs

Accepting a job offer ethically obligates you to cease job search
efforts and to notify other prospective employers that you
must withdraw your name from their consideration.

10. Email or Hard Copy?

For most business correspondence, you can use hard copy or
email. When you’re unsure which to use, consider the following:
• Hard copy is more formal than email. If the employer
does not have a website that invites email, or you haven’t
been otherwise invited to correspond to the employer via
email, you may wish to begin with hard copy correspondence. If the employer replies to you by email, you can
use email for subsequent contacts.
• When a job ad invites you to apply online, do it, and follow
instructions precisely. Email and employers’ websites often
make the process easier for both you and the employer.
• If you’ve found access to use email (job ad or website
invites this), but there are no instructions on how to
submit your resume, do this:
- Write your email as a cover letter.
- Also include your resume text in the email.
- In addition, state in your email that you are attaching your
cover letter and your resume as MS Word® documents
(and do so).

28 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

- You’ve thus given the employer the option to view your
documents as s/he chooses.
• When you have the opportunity, as in meeting an
employer at a career fair, ASK the employer’s preference
for e-mail or hard copy. When you’re given the employer’s
business card, or she tells you to visit the company web site
and follow up, you can say, “Would it be appropriate for
me to e-mail you (or whomever she’s told you to contact)?”
• When speed is necessary, use email.

Email guidelines

All the principles of written correspondence apply to both hard
copy and email, with some additional guidelines for email:
• DO use a subject line that would be logical to the recipient, like “Application for business analyst position.”
Meaningless subject lines include “Can you help me?,”
or “Read this.” If you leave the subject line blank and the
recipient does not recognize your email address, s/he
may simply delete your email without reading it.
• DON’T use an inappropriate email address or nickname.
Sending email from partyman@xxx.com is a good way to
have your email deleted without being read.
• DON’T start off, “Hi, my name is….” Just as in a business
letter, your name is at the conclusion of the letter. DO
start, just as in a business letter, by explaining why you
are writing. Be brief and clear, and cordial.
• DO use a business-like writing style, just as with hard
copy correspondence. With friends, for social purposes,
you can treat email like verbal conversation. Business
emails should be more formal than verbal conversation.
• DO include a clear signature block at the close of your
mail content. It should include your name, mailing
address, phone and return email address. After your name
you could include your major and year in school, as in
“Sophomore, Communication, East Carolina University.”
• DON’T include a URL for a website that is not strictly
professional in content or relevant to your career interests. Employers are busy and are not interested in
spending time looking at pictures of students’ pets; or
worse, their friends wearing lampshades. And if they do
see this, they’re likely to decide you lack the judgment
and maturity to be considered as a job candidate.
You make a better impression by including a cover letter. The
cover letter will introduce your resume to the employer and, if
well written, will prompt the employer to read the resume for
more details.
Even if you just spoke to an employer on the phone, at a career
fair, or otherwise, and put your resume in the mail that same
day, a cover letter is essential for several reasons:
• Don’t assume you are the only person to whom the
employer has spoken. Busy people need a reminder of
why your resume is arriving in the mail.
• Don’t assume the person you spoke to is the one who will
open your envelope. A cover letter explains why your
resume is showing up in the mail.
• A cover letter is a basic professional courtesy. You are
trying to present yourself as a person who is ready to
enter the professional world.
• A cover letter is an opportunity to call attention to your
strengths, interests and qualifications in a different
manner than you do in your resume.
• A cover letter is personalized to the individual to whom
you are writing, while your resume is not.
• NEVER mail a resume without a cover letter.
Adapted from Virginia Tech’s 2007-2008 Career Planning Guide.

The Art of Negotiating

A

n area of the job search that often receives little attention
is the art of negotiating. Once you have been offered
a job, you have the opportunity to discuss with the
employer the terms of your employment. Negotiations may be
uncomfortable or unsatisfying because we tend to approach
them with a winner-take-all attitude that is counterproductive
to the concept of negotiations.
Negotiating with your potential employer can make your
job one that best meets your own needs as well as those of your
employer. To ensure successful negotiations, it is important
to understand the basic components. The definition of negotiation as it relates to employment is: a series of communications
(either oral or in writing) that reach a satisfying conclusion for
all concerned parties, most often between the new employee
and the hiring organization.
Negotiation is a planned series of events that requires
strategy, presentation and patience. Preparation is probably
the single most important part of successful negotiations. Any
good trial attorney will tell you the key to presenting a good
case in the courtroom is the hours of preparation that happen
beforehand. The same is true for negotiating. A good case will
literally present itself. What follows are some suggestions
that will help you prepare for successful negotiating.

Research

Gather as much factual information as you can to back up
the case you want to make. For example, if most entering
employees cannot negotiate salary, you may be jeopardiz­ing
the offer by focusing on that aspect of the package. Turn your
attention to other parts of the offer such as their health plan,
dental plan, retirement package, the type of schedule you
prefer, etc.

Psychological Preparation

Chances are that you will not know the person with whom you
will be negotiating. If you are lucky enough to be acquainted,
spend some time reviewing what you know about this
person’s communication style and decision-making behavior.
In most cases, however, this person will be a stranger. Since
most people find the unknown a bit scary, you’ll
want to ask yourself what approach to negotiating you find
most comfortable. How will you psyche yourself up to feel
confident enough to ask for what you want? How will you
respond to counteroffers? What are your alternatives? What’s
your bottom line? In short, plan your strategy.
Be sure you know exactly what you want. This does not mean
you will get exactly that, but having the information clear in your
head will help you determine what you are willing to concede.
Unless you know what you want, you won’t be able to tell
somebody else. Clarity improves communication, which is the
conduit for effective negotiations.

Practice

Rehearse the presentation in advance using another ­person as
the employer. If you make mistakes in rehearsal, chances are
that you will not repeat them ­during the actual negotiations.
A friend can critique your reasoning and help you prepare for
questions. If this all seems like a lot of work, remember that if
something is worth negotiating for, it is worth preparing for.

Dollars and Sense

Always begin by expressing genuine interest in the position
and the organization, emphasizing the areas of agreement
but allowing “wiggle room” to compromise on other areas. Be
prepared to support your points of disagree­ment, outlining
the parts you would like to alter, your suggestions on how
this can be done and why it would serve the company’s best
interests to accommodate your request.
Be prepared to defend your proposal. Back up your
reasons for wanting to change the offer with meaningful,
work-related skills and positive benefits to the employer.
Request­ing a salary increase because you are a fast learner or
have a high GPA are usually not justifiable reasons in the eyes
of the employer. Meaningful work experience or internships
that have demonstrated or tested your professional skills are
things that will make an employer stop and take notice.
It is sometimes more comfortable for job-seekers to make
this initial request in writing and plan to meet later to hash out
the differences. You will need to be fairly direct and assertive
at this point even though you may feel extremely vulnerable.
Keep in mind that the employer has chosen you from a pool of
qualified applicants, so you are not as powerless as you think.
Sometimes the employer will bristle at the suggestion that
there is room to negotiate. Stand firm, but encourage the
employer to think about it for a day or two at which time you
will discuss the details of your proposal with him/her. Do
not rush the process because you are uncomfortable. The
employer may be counting on this discomfort and use it to derail
the negotiations. Remember, this is a series of volleys and lobs,
trade-offs and compromises that occur over a period of time. It is
a process—not a singular event!
Once you have reached a conclusion with which you are both
relatively comfortable, present in writing your interpretation of
the agreement so that if there is any question, it will be addressed
immediately. Negotiation, by definition, implies that each side
will give. Do not perceive it as an ultimatum.
If the employer chooses not to grant any of your requests—
and realistically, he or she can do that—you will still have the
option of accepting the original offer provided you have maintained a positive, productive and friendly atmosphere during
your exchanges. You can always re-enter negotiations after
you have demonstrated your worth to the organization.

Money Isn’t Everything

There are many things you can negotiate besides salary.
For example, benefits can add thousands of dollars to the
compensation package. Benefits can range from paid
­personal leave to ­discounts on the company’s products
and services. They constitute more than just icing on the
cake; they may be better than the cake itself. Traditional
benefits packages include health insurance, paid vacation
and personal/sick days. Companies may offer such benefits
as child care, elder care or use of the company jet for
family emergencies. Other lucrative ­benefits could include
disability and life insurance and a variety of retirement
plans. Some organizations offer investment and stock
options as well as relocation reimbursement and tuition
credits for continued education.
Written by Lily Maestas, Counseling and Career Services,
­University of California, Santa Barbara.

www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 29

Choosing Between Job Offers

T

he first question many of your friends will ask when
you receive a job offer is “What does it pay?” For many
college graduates this consideration is near the top of
the list, which is not surprising. Most students have invested
thousands of dollars in their education, often racking up high
student loan balances. Most graduates are looking forward
to paying off that debt. Also, the value of a salary is easy to
understand; the more zeroes after the first digit, the better.
In order to evaluate a salary offer you need to know what
the average pay scale is for your degree and industry. The
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) is
a good source of salary information for entry-level college
graduates. Their annual Salary Survey should be available
in your campus career center. Make sure you factor costof-living differences when considering salary offers. For
example, you may need an offer of $76,000 in San Francisco
to equal an offer of $40,000 in Huntsville, Ala.
Bonuses and commissions are considered part of your
salary, so take them into consideration when evaluating an
offer. It’s also important to have a good understanding of an
employer’s policies concerning raises. Be sure to never make
your decision on salary alone. Students tend to overemphasize salary when considering job offers. Money is important,
but it’s more important that you like your job. If you like
your job, chances are you’ll be good at it. And if you’re good
at your job, eventually you will be financially rewarded.

Factor in Benefits

the organization? Is there a dress code? Is overtime expected?
Do they value creativity or is it more important that you
follow protocol? Whenever possible, you should talk to
current or previous employees to get a sense of the corporate
culture. You may also be able to get a sense of the environment during the interview or by meeting your potential boss
and co-workers during the interview process. Ask yourself if
the corporate culture is ­compatible with your own attitudes,
beliefs and values.
Your boss and fellow co-workers make up the last part of
the work environment. Hopefully, you will like the people
you work with, but you must, at least, be able to work well
with them professionally. You may not be able to get a good
sense of your potential co-workers or boss during the interview process. But if you do develop strong feelings one way
or the other, be sure to take them into consideration when
making your final decision.

Like What You Do

Recent college ­graduates are seldom able to land their
dream jobs right out of school, but it’s still important that you
at least like what you do. Before accepting a job offer, make
sure you have a very good sense of what your day-to-day
duties will be. What are your responsibilities? Will you be
primarily working in teams or alone? Will your job tasks be
repetitive or varied? Will your work be challenging? What
level of stress can you expect with the position?

Of course, salary is only one way in which employers
financially compensate their employees. Ask anybody with a
long work history and they’ll tell you how important benefits
are. When most people think of employer benefits, they think
of things like health insurance, vacation time and retirement
savings. But employers are continually coming up with more
and more ­creative ways to compensate their workers, from
health club memberships to flextime. The value of a benefits
plan depends on your own plans and needs. A company gym
or membership at a health club won’t be of much value to
you if you don’t like to sweat.

Location, Location, Location

Who’s the Boss?

It’s acceptable to request two or three days to consider a job
offer. And depending on the employer and the position, even
a week of consideration time can be acceptable. If you’ve
already received another offer or expect to hear back from
anther employer soon, make sure you have time to consider
both offers. But don’t ask for too much time to consider. Like
all of us, employers don’t like uncertainty. Make sure you
give them an answer one way or another as soon as you can.

Who you work for can have as much bearing on your
overall job satisfaction as how much you earn and what you
do. First, analyze how stable the potential employer is. If the
company is for-profit, what were its earnings last year? What
are its projections for growth? If the job is with a government
agency or a nonprofit, what type of funding does it have?
How long has the employer been around? You could receive
the best job offer in the world, but if the job is cut in six
months, it won’t do you much good.

Corporate Culture

There are three aspects to a work environment: 1) the physical workspace, 2) the “corporate culture” of the employer,
and 3) fellow co-workers. Don’t underestimate the importance of a good workspace. If you are a private person, you
probably will not be able to do your best work in a cluster of
cubicles. If you are an extrovert, you won’t be happy shut in
an office for hours on end.
Corporate culture comprises the attitudes, experiences,
beliefs and values of an organization. What’s the hierarchy of

30 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

Climate, proximity to friends and family and local population (i.e., urban vs. rural) should all be evaluated against
your desires and preferences. If you are considering a job far
away from your current address, will the employer pay for
part or all of your ­moving expenses? Even if you are looking
at a local job, location can be important—especially as it
relates to travel time. A long commute will cost you time,
money and probably more than a ­little frustration. Make sure
the tradeoff is worth it.

Time is on Your Side

It’s Your Call

Once you make a decision, act quickly. If you are accepting
a position, notify the hiring manager by phone followed by a
confirmation letter or an email. Keep the letter short and state
the agreed upon salary and the start date. When rejecting
an offer, make sure to thank the employer for their time and
interest. It always pays to be polite in your correspondence.
You never know where your career path will take you and
it might just take you back to an employer you initially
rejected.
Written by Chris Enstrom, a freelance writer from Nashville, Ind.

Cost of Living Index

T

he following is a selection of cities where many graduating
­students accept offers. The cost of living index is based on the
composite price of groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, clothing and entertainment in each city listed. Use
the ­calculation to ­compare salaries in ­different cities. For further
information about the data below, please refer to http://www.bestplaces.net/html/col1.asp.
To compare information from other sources, refer to these Web sites:
http://www.salary.com and http://www.homefair.com/homefair/
calc/salcalc.html?type=to.

City #1 x Salary = $_______
City #2
What is the New York City equivalent of a
$40,000 salary in Orlando?
New York City 164 x $40,000 = $69,787
Orlando
94

94

Indiana
Bloomington
Indianapolis
South Bend

Maine
Portland

Salary Comparison Equation

103
92
128
99
74
72

Minnesota
Minneapolis
St. Paul

102
96

Missouri
Kansas City
St. Louis

80
80

North Dakota
Fargo

80

Ohio
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Columbus
Dayton

80
78
82
73

Oklahoma
Oklahoma City
Tulsa

79
78

Oregon
Portland

109

Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh

92
84

South Carolina
Charleston
Columbia

107
82

South Dakota
Sioux Falls

84

Tennessee
Chattanooga
Memphis
Nashville

82
72
89

Texas
Austin
Dallas
Houston
San Antonio

96
93
86
75

Utah
Salt Lake City

98

Vermont
Burlington

109

Virginia
Richmond
Virginia Beach

87
109

Washington
Seattle

132

Washington, DC

166

West Virginia
Charleston

75

Wisconsin
Madison
Milwaukee

93
83

Wyoming
Cheyenne

87

www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 31

Federal Jobs: Working for Uncle Sam

S

o you want to work for the federal government? You are
not alone. Uncle Sam employs approximately 1.8 million
civilian workers worldwide. Federal employees receive
a generous benefits package, and as of 2006 they earned an
average salary of $63,125. As the largest employer in the U.S.,
the ­federal ­government offers a variety of career opportunities unparalleled in the private sector. No matter what your
degree or level of experience, there is a job for you with the
feds. Federal employees work with (and create) cutting-edge
technology. They create ­policy, programs and services that
impact the health, safety and welfare of millions of people in
the U.S. and abroad.
But with these benefits come bureaucracy. If you do not
like working within a system and following a defined chain
of command, a federal job might not be for you. This bureaucracy is evident in the hiring process as well. Federal agencies
follow strict hiring procedures, and applicants who do not
conform to these procedures are left by the wayside. Typically,
the federal hiring process can stretch on for months. In fact,
many career professionals recommend that students applying
for federal jobs begin the process at least two semesters before
their graduation date.

Types of Federal Jobs

Federal jobs are separated into two classes: competitive
service and excepted service positions. Competitive service
jobs, which include the majority of federal positions, are
subject to civil service laws passed by Congress. Job applications for competitive service positions are rated on a numerical
system in which applications are awarded points based on
education, experience and other predetermined job qualification standards. Hiring managers then fill the position from a
pool of candidates with the highest point totals.
Hiring managers for excepted service agencies are not
required to follow civil service hiring procedures or pick
from a pool of candidates who have been rated on a points
system. Instead, these agencies set their own qualifications
require­ments, as occurs in private industry. However, both
competitive service and excepted service positions must
give preference to veterans who were either disabled or who
served in combat areas during certain periods of time. The
Federal Reserve, the Central Intelligence Agency and the
National Security Agency are examples of some excepted
service agencies. (For a complete list, visit usajobs.gov/
ei6.asp.) It’s important to note that even agencies that are not
strictly excepted service agencies can have excepted service
positions available within them.

OPM and USAJOBS

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) acts as
the federal government’s human resources agency. OPM’s
Web site (opm.gov) is expansive and contains a wealth of
information for anyone interested in federal jobs, including
federal employment trends, salary ranges, benefits, retirement
statistics and enough links to publications and resources to
keep a research librarian busy for days. Linked to the OPM site
is the recently launched USAJOBS site (usajobs.gov), which
has its own set of tools and resources. Of particular interest
to job applicants is “The Career Interest Center” page, which
contains tools to help applicants find jobs that match their
education, skills and interests. More importantly, USAJOBS
acts as a portal for federal employment with thousands of job
listings at any one time.

32 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

Ten Steps to the Federal Job Search

Do you know what to expect when applying for federal jobs?
Navigating the federal job search can be very time-consuming
and confusing; however, with the right tools and steps the
process can run very smoothly. Here are ten steps worth
taking in order to land a federal job, which often results in
good pay, benefits, stability, and career growth. Any student
can apply for a federal job or internship, you just need to be
prepared! [Tips from: Troutman, K , & Troutman E. (2004).
The student’s federal career guide: 10 steps to find and win top
government jobs and internships.
1. Network: Think about this statement, “They can’t hire
you if they don’t know who you are. They can’t hire you if
you don’t know who they are.” Start talking to friends and
family who may have contacts in the federal government.
Furthermore, contact individuals who hold federal jobs
and ask to conduct an informational interview.
2. Find your agency and job title: Know what job titles are
correct for you. There are approximately 75 majors
matching 450 job titles and agencies.
3. Internships: A federal internship can be your ticket to a
federal career. More than 100 different intern programs
are identified in the following web site: www.student
jobs.gov/d_internship.asp. Many of these positions are
paid. Also be aware that there are Fellowship Programs
as well.
4. Understanding Federal Jobs—Target Your Salary and
Grade: The federal civil service has different grading and
pay structures for its professional and trade workforces. It
is important for you to know what categories you fall into
when applying for jobs.
5. Find Vacancy Announcements: Locating a vacancy
announcement for which you are qualified can be like
finding gold! Find an agency and office whose mission is
right for you. A great place to start researching is www.
usajobs.gov.
6. Write Your Federal Resume: Your federal resume is your
federal application. This is the most important document
you will write and submit for a federal job. Also, beware
that a federal resume is not the same as a private industry
resume. Related information and samples can be found at
www.tenstepsforstudents.org.
7. Write KSAs and Cover Letters: KSA is an acronym for
“Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.” They are narrative
statements written by the applicant that reflect successful
performance in their background. Cover letters should
be limited to one page, and should be well written and
express your appreciation for a review of your resume.
8. Apply for Federal Jobs: There are more than 50 ways to
apply for federal jobs; therefore, it is imperative that you
follow the directions of each individual vacancy
announcement.
9. Track and Follow up: Asking questions, gaining information, developing relationships, and becoming known are a
helpful part of the application process.
10. Interview for a Federal Job: The federal government uses
many different approaches to interviewing. Please use
The Career Center to assist you in understanding these
approaches and preparing for your interviews.
Adapted from Virginia Tech’s 2007-2008 Career Planning Guide.

Student Employment at ECU

W

orking a part-time job on or off campus enables
students to apply knowledge being learned in the
classroom and strengthens their skills for future
employment. Students who work while going to school have
an opportunity to help pay educational costs and gain valuable experience and skills to enhance their career goals. The
networking and contacts gained during this time will prove
helpful when professional references are needed upon graduation. FACT: 75% of all U.S. college undergraduate students
work part-time.
On-campus jobs: There are four types of campus positions
available to registered ECU students; Federal Work Study,
Self-Help, Graduate Assistantships, and Undergraduate
Assistantships. The majority of hourly student worker positions are hired as Office Assistants, Computer Lab Assistants,
or Library Assistants. Duties, responsibilities, and requirements may vary with each type of position. Certain positions
may require specific levels of experience, training, class
standing and/or certification.
Off-campus jobs: We are fortunate to have the support of our
local business community. Many local employers advertise
their part-time and seasonal jobs with our office via PirateJobs.
In addition, several non-profit agencies participate in our
Federal Work Study Community Service program.

Description of Part-Time Positions

should contact their respective graduate program director for
more information. Salary amounts vary with each program
but the minimum is $3,750 (for 20 hours) per semester and
is provided through the department’s budget. GAs are paid
twice a month and do not submit timesheets.
4. Undergraduate Assistantships (UGAs)—Are awarded
by some departments typically to upperclassman who have
a strong academic background to aid faculty with research,
teaching, and community engagement. An undergraduate
assistant must be in good academic standing (minimum 2.0
cumulative GPA) and be enrolled in an on-campus ECU
undergraduate degree program (minimum 12 credit hours).
These positions are typically paid through stipends or a
semester salary (amounts will vary). The number of hours
worked each week may vary by department, but can not
exceed 30 hours per week (international students may not
exceed 20 hours per week) during the academic year. UGAs
are paid twice a month and do not submit timesheets.
5. Part-Time Jobs (Off-Campus)—There are numerous offcampus part-time job opportunities available. Many local
employers post their job opportunities via PirateJobs. Some
may not. Utilize all of your resources when searching for a
part-time job. PirateJobs is a great place to start, but you will
also want to speak with your friends, parents, and professors
to see if they have any job leads as well. Be sure to check out
the local classified section in The Daily Reflector and The East
Carolinian newspapers.

1. Federal Work Study (FWS)—A federally funded program
based on student’s financial need. ONLY students qualified
by Financial Aid office are eligible to participate in the work
study program. Qualified students receive a hiring authorization form from Financial Aid. Can not work more than 20
hours per week during the academic year (38 hours per week
during summer). Positions are available with campus departments and with approved off-campus community service
agencies (mostly non-profit organizations). Hourly pay rates
are based on the students experience level and range from
$8.00-$10.00 per hour. FWS students are paid twice a month
and submit timesheets.
2. Self-Help—Any student currently registered at ECU in
good academic standing (minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA) is
eligible to apply for Self-Help campus jobs. Self-Help positions
are part-time campus positions that are paid directly out of the
hiring department’s budget. Hourly pay rates vary (minimum
wage on up) depending on the departments budget, students
experience level, and the required duties and responsibilities
of the position. Students may not work more than 30 hours
per week (international students may not exceed 20 hours per
week) during the academic year. Self-Help students are paid
twice a month and must submit timesheets.
3. Graduate Assistantships (GAs)—Are awarded through
most, but not all, graduate programs at ECU. GAs usually
require the student be enrolled full-time (at least 9 s.h. of
graduate level coursework) and that the student provides up
to 30 hours per week (international students may not exceed
20 hours per week) during the academic year. Some graduate
programs offer 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-hour assistantships. Since
the terms and requirements of GAs vary by program, students

www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 33

Succeeding in Your Internship or Co-op

O

ne of the best benefits of an internship experience is
that it can serve as your passport to future employment opportunities. Getting your foot in the door by
landing the internship is only half of the challenge in turning
your career dreams into reality. During this career experience,
the more important half is to build a reputation that will
culminate in a full-time job offer!
A growing number of employers are using internships as a
way to gain a first in-depth look at prospective employees. In
this way, both you and your employer have a common goal—
namely, to determine if there is a good fit between you and the
position/company.
Here are 10 tips to becoming a savvy intern and making
powerful career moves:

1. Exhibit a Can-Do Attitude.
Pass the attitude test and you will be well on your way to
success. Attitude speaks loud and clear and makes a lasting
impression, so make sure that yours is one of your greatest
assets. Take on any task assigned—no matter how small—
with enthusiasm. Take the initiative to acquire new skills.
Accept criticism graciously and maintain a sense of humor.

2. Learn the Unwritten Rules.
Get to know your co-workers early in your internship. They
will help you figure out quickly the culture in which you will
be working. You will need to adapt, observe, learn, and
process a large volume of information. Watch closely how
things get done. Ask questions and pay attention to how
people interact with each other and what the organization’s
“unwritten rules” are.

3. Take Your Assignments Seriously.
Build a reputation for being dependable. Be diligent and
accurate in your work. You may encounter a great deal of
ambiguity in the work environment, so seek direction when in
doubt and do whatever it takes to get the job done. As an intern,
you will generally start out by performing small tasks, asking
a lot of questions, and learning the systems. Your internship
supervisor knows that there will be an initial learning curve and
will make allowances for mistakes. Learn from your errors and
move on to your next task. From there, your responsibilities and
the expectations of others are likely to grow.

4. Meet Deadlines.
Always assume the responsibility to ask when an assignment
is due. This will help you to understand your supervisor’s
priorities and to manage your time accordingly. Alert your
boss in advance if you will be unable to meet expectations.
This shows respect and professional maturity.

5. Set Realistic Goals and Expectations.
Invest actively in the most critical element of your internship—
the learning agenda that you set up with your supervisor at
the beginning of the assignment. Your learning agenda should
target specific skills and competencies that you wish to acquire
and demonstrate. After all, the learning agenda is what

34 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

distinguishes a short-term job from an internship. It is up to
you to establish a correlation between your learning goals and
the daily work you are asked to perform. Maintain a journal
of your activities and accomplishments in order to monitor
your progress. Begin creating a portfolio of your projects that
you can use later to highlight your skills, talents, and accomplishments. In addition, seek regular reviews from your
supervisor to assess your performance and reinforce the fact
that you mean business.

6. Find a Mentor.
A mentor who can provide you with additional guidance
will contribute to your effectiveness as an intern. Identify at
least one individual to serve as your mentor or professional
guardian. It should be someone who is willing to take a
personal interest in your career development and success.
Once you know your way around, begin to network wisely
and get “plugged in” by associating with other seasoned
employees who may share their knowledge, perspectives, and
insights. Get noticed because more people will have a role in
determining your future than you might at first realize.

7. Communicate Respectfully.
Assume that everyone else knows more than you do, but
don’t be afraid to present useful ideas that solve problems or
save time or money. Mentors and supervisors can be great
sounding boards. Don’t hesitate to check in with them ahead
of time if you’re uncertain or want additional guidance. Make
sure, however, that your style does not come across as arrogant. Employers value assertiveness but not aggressiveness.
Find out the proper way to address individuals including
customers. Maintain a pleasant and respectful demeanor with
every person regardless of his or her rank.

8. Be Flexible.
Accept a wide variety of tasks, even those that may not relate
directly to your assignments or those that may seem like
menial work. Your willingness to go the extra mile, especially
during “crunch time,” will help open up the way to assuming
greater responsibilities. This demonstrates the increased value
you bring to the organization.

9. Be a Team Player.
Learn how your assignment fits into the grand scheme of
things and keep a keen eye on getting the job done. In today’s
work environment, success is often defined as your ability to
get along with and interact with others. You’re a winner only
if your team wins.

10. Have Fun!
Last but not least, enjoy learning, sharpening your skills,
and developing professionally and personally. Participate
in work-related social functions, committees, and become an
active member of your work community.
Reprinted from San José State University’s 2007-2008 Job & Internship
Guide.

Professional Etiquette

Y

our academic knowledge and skills may be spectacular,
but do you have the social skills needed to be successful
in the workplace? Good professional etiquette indicates
to potential employers that you are a mature, responsible
adult who can aptly represent their company. Not knowing
proper etiquette could damage your image, prevent you
from getting a job and jeopardize personal and business
relationships.

• When ordering, keep in mind that this is a talking­ ­business
lunch. Order something easy to eat, such as boneless
chicken or fish.

Meeting and Greeting

• Keep hands in lap unless you are using them to eat.

Etiquette begins with meeting and greeting. Terry Cobb,
human resource director at Wachovia Corporation in South
Carolina’s Palmetto region, emphasizes the importance of
making a good first impression—beginning with the handshake. A firm shake, he says, indicates to employers that
you’re confident and assertive. A limp handshake, on the
other hand, sends the message that you’re not interested
or qualified for the job. Dave Owenby, human resources
­manager for North and South Carolina at Sherwin Williams,
believes, “Good social skills include having a firm handshake,
smiling, making eye contact and closing the meeting with a
handshake.”
The following basic rules will help you get ahead in the
workplace:
• Always rise when introducing or being introduced to
someone.

• Provide information in making introductions—you are
responsible for keeping the conversation going. “Joe,
please meet Ms. Crawford, CEO at American Enterprise,
Inc., in Cleveland.” “Mr. Jones, this is Kate Smith, a
senior majoring in computer information systems at
Northwestern University.”

• Unless given permission, always address someone by his
or her title and last name.
• Practice a firm handshake. Make eye contact while
shaking hands.

Dining

Shirley Willey, owner of Etiquette & Company, reports that
roughly 80% of second interviews involve a business meal.
Cobb remembers one candidate who had passed his initial
interview with flying colors. Because the second interview
was scheduled close to noon, Cobb decided to conduct the
interview over lunch. Initially, the candidate was still in the
“interview” mode and maintained his professionalism. After
a while, however, he became more relaxed—and that’s when
the candidate’s real personality began to show. He had terrible
table manners, made several off-color remarks and spoke
negatively about previous employers. Needless to say, Cobb
was unimpressed, and the candidate did not get the job.
Remember that an interview is always an interview, regardless of how relaxed or informal the setting. Anything that is
said or done will be considered by the interviewer, cautions
Cobb.
In order to make a good impression during a lunch or
­dinner interview, make sure you:
• Arrive on time.

• Wait to sit until the host/hostess indicates the seating
arrangement.

• Place napkin in lap before eating or drinking anything.

• Do not hold the order up because you cannot make a
decision. Feel free to ask for suggestions from others at
the table.
• Wait to eat until everyone has been served.
• Practice proper posture; sit up straight with your arms
close to your body.
• Bring food to your mouth—not your head to the plate.
• Try to eat at the same pace as everyone else.
• Take responsibility for keeping up the conversation.
• Place napkin on chair seat if excusing yourself for any
reason.
• Place napkin beside plate at the end of the meal.
• Push chair under table when excusing yourself.

Eating

Follow these simple rules for eating and drinking:
• Start eating with the implement that is farthest away from
your plate. You may have two spoons and two forks. The
spoon farthest away from your plate is a soup spoon. The
fork farthest away is a salad fork unless you have three
forks, one being much smaller, which would be a seafood
fork for an appetizer. The dessert fork/spoon is usually
above the plate. Remember to work from the outside in.
• Dip soup away from you; sip from the side of the spoon.
• Season food only after you have tasted it.
• Pass salt and pepper together—even if asked for only one.
• Pass all items to the right. If the item has a handle, such as
a pitcher, pass with the handle toward the next ­person.
For bowls with spoons, pass with the spoon ready for the
next person. If you are the one to reach to the center of the
table for an item, pass it before serving yourself.
• While you are speaking during a meal, utensils should be
resting on plate (fork and knife crossed on the plate with
tines down).
• Don’t chew with your mouth open or blow on your food.
The interviewer will usually take care of the bill and the tip.
Be prepared, however, if this doesn’t happen and have small
bills ready to take care of your part, including the tip. Never
make an issue of the check.
Social skills can make or break your career. Social skills can
make or break a career. Employees have to exhibit a certain
level of professionalism and etiquette in their regular work
day, and particularly in positions where they come in contact
with clients. Be one step ahead—practice the social skills
necessary to help you make a great first impression and stand
out in a competitive job market.
Written by Jennie Hunter, a professor at Western Carolina
University.

www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 35

Dining Out
I. Arrangements
• When making dining arrangements find out:
1) Time—be prompt
2) Location to be picked up
3) Type of restaurant; casual or dressy
II. Entering
• Allow host to make arrangements with the restaurant
• Follow host’s cue on where to sit
• Allow women to be seated first
III. After You Are Seated
• Unfold large napkin in half, place in lap
• During meal, place napkin on chair if you leave the table,
and on either side of your plate when meal is finished
• Do not use napkin as a handkerchief
IV. Ordering
• Follow the host’s cue for ordering drinks and food.
Remember, drinking alcohol hinders decision making.
Don’t order the most expensive item on the menu.
Avoid messy food, ordering instead food that is eaten
with a fork.

Do’s and Don’ts for Dining Out
DO:
• remember that your actions are
being observed.
• use your best manners and choice
vocabulary.
• cut only one bite of food at a time.
• break a whole slice of bread at
least in half after putting it on
the plate.
• pass salt and pepper together.

DON’T:
• reach—ask for items to be passed.
• talk or drink with your mouth full
of food.
• sprinkle salt and pepper all over
your food without tasting it first.
• use the salad plate for bread and
­butter. Use the bread plate on
your left.
• request catsup for anything other
than a hamburger.

Dinnerware
1. Dinner plate
2. Salad plate—placed
on ­dinner plate if
salad is the first
course.
Placed to the left
of the forks if the
salad accompanies
or ­follows the main
course.
3. Bread and ­butter
plate—above the
fork.

Dining Terminology
a la carte - off the menu and items priced
separately
au jus -
in its own juice
aux fines herbes - with parsley, herbs and butter
bearnaise -
brown sauce with butter
bordelaise - sauce made with wine, bone ­marrow,
herbs, and beef stock
brochette - a skewer, or anything cooked on one
consomme - enriched, concentrated meat stock
en croute -
baked in pastry crust
hollandaise - heavy sauce with egg, butter and
lemon
maison - in style of the restaurant
maitre d’hotel - head waiter who greets you at the table
mousse - whipped dessert made with cream,
gelatin and/or egg whites
tarte -
pie
tempura -
prepared in batter and fried
soup du jour -
soup of the day
V. Serving
• Expect the waiter to serve from the left and remove
empty dishes from the right. Do not move empty dishes
to the side or hand them to the waiter.
• The utensils are arranged in the order that they will be
used—use them from the outside in. The spoon and fork
above the dinner plate are for dessert.
• Take your cue from the host to begin eating; otherwise,
it is polite to wait until everyone has been served before
proceeding. However, in large groups (six or more), the
host may suggest that the first served begin eating.

Silverware
8. Salad fork—to the
left of the dinner fork
when the salad is
served first or with
the rest of the main
course.
9. Dinner fork—left of
the ­dinner plate.
10. Seafood fork—right of
the spoon (or served
with the seafood
­cocktail).
11. Dessert fork—above
the dinner plate with
the prongs to the right.
12. Knife—right of the
­dinner plate.

International Students and the Job Search

L

ooking for a job is seldom easy for any student. For you,
the international student, the job search process can be
especially confusing. You may lack an understanding of
U.S. employment regulations, or perhaps you are unaware
of the impact your career choice has on your job search. You
may also be unsure about your role as the job-seeker and the
resources used by American employers to find candidates.
The following is an overview of the issues most relevant
to international students in developing a job search strategy.
Additional information about the employment process and
related topics can be found through your career center and
on the Internet.

Bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Regulations

As an international student, you should only obtain employment-related information from an experienced immigration
attorney or your campus USCIS representative. Advice from
any other resource may be inaccurate. Once you have decided to
remain in the United States to work, contact the international
student services office or the office of human resources on
your campus and make an appointment with your USCIS
representative. In addition to helping you fill out necessary
forms, the USCIS representative will inform you of the costs
associated with working in the United States.

Importance of Skills and Career Field

Find out if your degree and skills-set are currently in demand
in the U.S. job market. An advanced degree, highly marketable skills or extensive experience will all make your job
search ­easier. Find out what region of the United States holds
the majority of the jobs in your field; you may need to relocate in order to find the job you want. Learn all you can about
your targeted career field by talking to professors, reading
industry publications and attending professional meetings
and regional conferences.

Role of Employers

It is the employer’s responsibility to find the right people for
his or her company—not to help you find a job. The interview
is successful when both of you see a match between the
employer’s needs and your interest and ability to do the job.
The employer (through hiring managers, human resources
staff or employment agencies) will most likely use several
resources to find workers, including:
• College recruiting
• Campus or community career fairs
• Posting jobs on the company website or on national job
posting sites on the Internet
• Posting jobs in major newspapers or trade publications
• Posting jobs with professional associations
• Resume searches on national online services
• Employee referrals
• Regional and national conferences
• Employment agencies (“headhunters”)
Are you accessible to employers through at least some of
the above strategies? If not, develop a plan to make sure your

c­ redentials are widely circulated. Notify as many people as
possible in your field about your job search.

Strong Communication Skills

You can help the employer make an informed hiring decision if
you:
• Provide a well-prepared resume that includes desirable
skills and relevant employment experiences.
• Clearly convey your interests and ability to do the job in
an interview.
• Understand English when spoken to you and can effectively express your thoughts in English.
It’s important to be able to positively promote yourself
and talk with confidence about your education, relevant
skills and related experiences. Self-promotion is rarely easy for
anyone. But, it can be especially difficult for individuals from
cultures where talking about yourself is considered inappropriate. When interviewing in the United States, however, you
are expected to be able to explain your ­credentials and why
you are suitable for the position.
Be sensitive to the interviewer’s verbal and nonverbal
cues. Some international students may not realize when their
accent is causing them to be misunderstood. Interviewers
are sometimes too embarrassed or impatient to ask for
clarification, so be on the lookout for nonverbal clues, such
as follow-up questions that don’t match your responses or
sudden disinterest on the part of the interviewer. Also, make
sure you express proper nonverbal ­communication; always
look directly at the employer in order to portray confidence
and honesty.
If your English language skills need some work, get
involved with campus and community activities. These
events will allow you to practice speaking English. The more
you use the language, the more proficient you will become.
These activities are also a great way to make ­networking
contacts.

The Career Center

The Career Center can be a valuable resource in your job
search. Be aware, however, that some employers using The
Career ­Center won’t interview students who are not U.S.
­citizens. Though this may limit your ability to participate in
some campus interviews, there are numerous ways to ­benefit
from The Career Center:
• Attend sessions on job search strategies and related ­topics.
• Work with The Career Center staff to develop your job
search strategy.
• Attend campus career fairs and company information
sessions to inquire about employment opportunities and
to practice your networking skills.
It’s a good idea to get advice from other international
students who have successfully found employment in this
country and to start your job search early. Create and follow
a detailed plan of action that will lead you to a great job you
can write home about.
Written by Rosita Smith.

www.ecu.edu/career • East Carolina University 37

Is Graduate School Right for You?

A

t some point in your college career, you must decide
what you would like to do after graduation—and that
includes whether or not to attend graduate school. If
you’re trying to determine whether graduate school is right
for you, here are some pointers to help you make an enlightened decision.

1. Should I consider going to graduate school?

Going to graduate school might be a good idea if you…
• want to be a professor, lawyer, doctor, investment banker
or work in any profession that requires a post-
secondary education.
• wish to develop additional expertise in a particular subject
or field to maximize your future earning potential and
opportunities for career advancement.
• are deeply interested in a particular subject and wish
to study it in-depth—AND have the time and financial
resources to devote to further education.
Going to graduate school might not be a good idea if you…
• are trying to delay your entry into the “real world” with
real responsibilities and real bills.
• are clueless about your career goals.
• aren’t prepared to devote the time and hard work needed
to succeed.
• want to stay in school longer to avoid a poor job market.

2. Is it better to work first or attend graduate school
immediately after I complete my undergraduate
degree?
Work first if…
• you would like to get some real-world work experence
before investing thousands of dollars in a graduate degree.
• the graduate school of your choice prefers work experience
(most MBA and some Ph.D. programs require this).
• you cannot afford to go to graduate school now, and you
haven’t applied for any scholarships, grants, fellowships
and assistantships, which could pay for a great deal of your
education.

Go to graduate school now if…
• you are absolutely sure you want to be a college professor,
doctor, lawyer, etc., and need a graduate degree to pursue
your dream job.
• you have been awarded grants, fellowships, scholarships or
assistantships that will help pay for your education.
• you’re concerned that once you start earning real money,
you won’t be able to return to the lifestyle of a “poor”
student.
• your study habits and mental abilities are at their peak, and
you worry whether you’ll have the discipline (or motivation) to write papers and study for exams in a few years.

3. I am broke. How will I pay for tuition, books,
fees and living expenses?

• Family: You’ve likely borrowed from them in the past;
maybe you’re lucky enough for it to still be a viable
option.
• Student Loans: Even if you’ve taken out loans in the past,
another $50,000 - $75,000 may be a sound “investment” in
your future.

38 East Carolina University

• www.ecu.edu/career

• Fellowships/Scholarships: A free education is always the
best option. The catch is you need a high GPA, good GRE/
GMAT/LSAT/MCAT scores and the commitment to search
out every possible source of funding.
• Teaching/Research Assistantships: Many assistantships
include tuition waivers plus a monthly stipend. It’s a great
way to get paid for earning an education.
• Employer Sponsorship: Did you know that some companies
actually pay for you to continue your education? The catch
is they usually expect you to continue working for them
after you complete your degree so they can recoup their
investment.

4. What are the pros and cons of going to graduate
school full-time vs. part-time?
Benefits of attending graduate school full-time:
• you’ll be able to complete your degree sooner.
• you can totally commit your intellectual, physical and
emotional energy to your education.
• ideal if you want to make a dramatic career change.
Benefits of attending graduate school part-time:
• work income helps pay for your education.
• you can take a very manageable course load.
• you can juggle family responsibilities while completing
your degree.
• allows you to work in the function/industry/career of
your choice while continuing your education.
• employer will often pay for part (or all) of your graduate
degree.

5. Assuming I want to go to graduate school in the
near future, what should I do now?

a. Identify your true strengths, interests and values to help
you discover what is right for YOU—not your friends or
parents.
b. Keep your grades up and sign up (and prepare) to take the
required standardized tests.
c. Talk to faculty, friends and family who have gone to
graduate school to get their perspective about the
differences between being an undergraduate and a graduate student.
d. Talk to faculty, friends and family who are in your­
­targeted profession to get a realistic sense of the career
path and the challenges associated with the work they
do.
e. Investigate creative ways to finance your education—by
planning ahead you may reduce your debt.
f. Research graduate schools to help you find a good match.
g. Investigate the admissions process and the current
student body profile of your targeted schools to evaluate
your probability for admission.
h. Have faith and APPLY! Remember, you can’t get in unless
you apply.
Written by Roslyn J. Bradford.